A 53-year-old woman has been sent to prison for decades-long use of a stolen identity, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
LAREDO, Texas – Elizabeth Ann Berbel pleaded guilty on Aug. 28, 2023, to passport fraud and aggravated identity theft. The defendant is also known as Ana Elizabeth Gomez-Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez, Anna Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Anna Elizabeth Gomez, Elizabeth Berbel, Elizabeth Ann Gomez, Tina Gomez-Manns and Anna Gomez.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now ordered Berbel to serve six and 24 months for the passport fraud and aggravated identity theft convictions, respectively. They will run consecutively for a total 30-month-term of imprisonment. Berbel was also ordered to pay $3,083.43 in restitution.
During the hearing, the court heard testimony from the victim who described the trauma she has experienced as a result of Berbel’s conduct as well as the negative impact the use of her identity has had on her life and career.
The investigation revealed that Berbel had been using the victim’s Social Security number and other information as early as 2001. On March 22, 2019, Berbel applied for a passport in Laredo, including information that actually belonged to another person.
The Department of State conducted the investigation with assistance from the Social Security Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew prosecuted the case. Berbel will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Elizabeth Ann Berbel’s decades-long use of a stolen identity has come to an end, but the damage to the victim’s life and career will be long-lasting. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of identity theft and the importance of protecting personal information.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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