A contract worker at a Sulphur facility, Cristobal Vargas Zambrano, 32, has pleaded guilty to using a fraudulent facility access pass to attempt to gain entrance into a Sulphur, La., petrochemical facility on August 14, 2014.
According to the guilty plea, Zambrano used a fraudulent transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) to attempt to gain access to Westlake Petrochemicals, a Transportation Security Act regulated facility.
Westlake Petrochemicals requires workers to present a TWIC card to gain access, and Zambrano’s actions violate this regulation.
The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.
Zambrano faces up to five years in prison, three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
A sentencing date of June 29, 2015, was set, and Zambrano’s plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter.
The guilty plea highlights the importance of proper security protocols and the consequences of attempting to bypass them.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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