Gabino Lopez-Lopez Gets Time Served for Fake Green Card Fraud

Gabino Lopez-Lopez, 27, of Saratoga Springs, New York, walked out of federal court with a slap on the wrist and a one-way ticket to deportation — after admitting he lied his way through U.S. immigration channels with a phony green card. The Mexican citizen was sentenced to time served — 88 days in jail — for presenting a counterfeit alien registration receipt in Latham, New York, on November 10, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian didn’t mince words: Lopez-Lopez used fake documents to claim lawful presence in the United States, a move that exposed systemic vulnerabilities in immigration verification processes. But instead of stiff penalties, the defendant got credit for time already served — drawing quiet criticism from enforcement insiders who say such leniency undermines deterrence.

The fraud unfolded during a routine appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where Lopez-Lopez flashed the forged registration card like it was legit. It wasn’t. He admitted in court he’s a citizen of Mexico and had been in the country illegally — the very status he tried to erase with a piece of counterfeit plastic.

Acting ICE Buffalo Field Director Thomas P. Brophy confirmed the case was built by Homeland Security’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), a unit that tracks down immigration cheats and border jumpers. This wasn’t a smuggling ring or a document mill — just one man, one fake green card, and a calculated gamble that nearly paid off.

But the gamble ended at sentencing. Moments after the judge imposed time served, Lopez-Lopez was turned over to the Department of Homeland Security. Now, he’s not just a convicted fraudster — he’s in the crosshairs of removal proceedings, with deportation looming as the final chapter of his American stay.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan handled the prosecution, closing the case with minimal fanfare. No fines. No prison stretch. Just a record, a rap sheet, and a system that caught one small-time player — while countless others may still be hiding behind fake IDs in plain sight.