GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Felix Coc Choc, a 29-year-old Guatemalan national residing in Rogers, Arkansas, has been indicted on federal charges of fraud related to the sponsorship of an unaccompanied alien child (UAC).
Coc Choc is accused of making fraudulent misstatements to the U.S. government in an attempt to sponsor and obtain custody of a 16-year-old Guatemalan UAC who entered the United States illegally in January 2023.
According to court documents, Coc Choc initially claimed to be the UAC’s brother using a false name J.C.J., presenting a Guatemala national identification card as evidence. When confronted, he admitted to the misrepresentation and later filed an application under his true name, which was denied due to the prior fraud.
U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis emphasized the commitment of federal authorities to eliminating the exploitation of minors, stating, “We are committed to eliminating the exploitation of minors and their families by unscrupulous traffickers.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division echoed these sentiments, noting the threat posed by defendants who lie to secure care for vulnerable children. “Defendants who lie to secure the care and custody of an unaccompanied child threaten the government’s ability to ensure that the child is placed in a safe environment,” Galeotti said.
Coc Choc faces up to five years in prison for making false statements and an additional two years for aggravated identity theft. The investigation was conducted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), a partnership aimed at targeting human smuggling and trafficking networks operating across the Americas.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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