BOSTON – Liene Tavares DeBarros, Jr., 40, is heading to federal prison after admitting to peddling fake Green Cards and Social Security cards while illegally back in the United States. The Brazilian national was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to five months behind bars, followed by two years of supervised release. DeBarros will be deported once his sentence is complete.
The scheme came crashing down after law enforcement received tips in mid-2024 that DeBarros, residing in Woburn, Mass., was churning out counterfeit identification documents. Undercover officers quickly engaged with the defendant, and in October 2024, DeBarros willingly sold a fake Social Security card and a Green Card for a mere $250. He wasn’t finished. In December 2024, he upped the ante, selling two more Social Security cards and two additional Green Cards to a different undercover operative for $500. He’d even agreed to provide three more sets of fraudulent documents before his arrest.
This wasn’t a first offense. DeBarros was initially deported from the U.S. back in July 2010. He ignored that order, illegally reentering the country sometime after. The brazenness of his return, coupled with the establishment of a new criminal enterprise, clearly demonstrated a disregard for U.S. law. A search of his home turned up three Social Security cards and a fabricated set of identification documents… for himself.
DeBarros pleaded guilty in May 2025 to two counts of unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature and one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was originally arrested and charged by criminal complaint in March 2025. The investigation was spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations’ Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, a multi-agency operation dedicated to dismantling these kinds of schemes.
“This case highlights the ongoing threat posed by individuals who seek to profit from the exploitation of our nation’s immigration system,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley in a statement. The investigation involved personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
The Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, comprised of experts from various federal, state, and local agencies, continues to target individuals and organizations involved in document fraud, identity theft, and benefit scams. While five months may seem light, DeBarros’ deportation ensures he won’t be forging documents on U.S. soil anytime soon. The message is clear: peddling fake IDs carries serious consequences.
Related Federal Cases
- Methuen Man Gets 27 Months for Identity Theft Scheme · Massachusetts
- Springfield Felon Gets 15-Year Sentence for Illegal Firearm · Massachusetts
- Portland Drug Kingpin Gets 15-Year Sentence · Massachusetts
- Hazelton Predator Brower Gets 9 Years · Massachusetts
- Ricco Gets Probation for EPA Fraud · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News