David William Welbig, Aggravated Identity Theft, Albuquerque NM, 2014

David William Welbig, 66, of Albuquerque, has entered a guilty plea in federal court, admitting to using a deceased person’s passport to evade arrest. The charges stem from an elaborate scheme to dodge a decades-old warrant.

Welbig, who was indicted in November 2014, faces a substantial penalty for his actions. He stands accused of obtaining the passport through false statements and using it to avoid capture on older charges related to stolen securities.

The saga began in July 2014 when Welbig utilized the identifying information of someone who had passed away to obtain a U.S. passport. The deceitful move was aimed at evading law enforcement on an outstanding warrant from the District of Colorado, dating back to 1991.

During sentencing, Welbig is looking at two years in federal prison and one year of supervised release as part of his sentence for aggravated identity theft. His hearing is still pending, but the repercussions are clear: a federal crime that could alter his life forever.

While Welbig has already entered guilty pleas to three counts of interstate transportation of stolen securities, he awaits sentencing on those charges. He could face up to ten years in prison and an additional three years of supervised release for each count.

This case is a stark reminder of the lengths some will go to avoid justice. Investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Cairns, it highlights the federal government’s dedication to pursuing identity theft cases with vigor.

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