Hampton, IA – The grimy streets of Hampton, Iowa, are once again in the headlines as Abel Hernandez-Labra, 43, faces serious charges after being accused of orchestrating a fraudulent passport scheme. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Hernandez-Labra has been charged with passport fraud and making false statements.
The Complaint filed on July 15, 2014, in the United States District Court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, alleges that Hernandez-Labra deceitfully assumed the identity of a U.S. citizen by obtaining the victim’s birth certificate. This document was then used to apply for and receive a U.S. passport in 2008, alongside an Iowa driver’s license also obtained in the victim’s name.
When confronted by investigating special agents, Hernandez-Labra reportedly provided a written sworn statement that contained several material false statements, further cementing his fraudulent activities. The DOJ has charged him with both offenses.
Hernandez-Labra made an appearance today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was remanded without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 30, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. It’s important to note that as with any criminal case, Hernandez-Labra is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation into the case has been a collaborative effort involving various law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Rich Murphy and Daniel C. Tvedt are prosecuting the case, while U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) special agents were instrumental in the arrest. Local support was provided by the Hampton Police Department, the Webster City Police Department, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
For more detailed information on this case, court file information can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 14-MJ-176.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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