⏱ 2 min read
Carlos Alexis Chavez-Paz, a Honduran national, walked into a DMV office in Stafford County, Virginia, on January 10, 2025, with a plan to deceive. He presented a genuine Kentucky driver’s license with his picture, but bearing the name of a US citizen. Alongside this, he submitted a counterfeit Puerto Rican birth certificate, a fake Social Security card containing the victim’s Social Security number, and mail addressed to the identity theft victim. Chavez-Paz’s goal was to obtain a Virginia driver’s license in the victim’s name, evading detection by immigration authorities.
Chavez-Paz’s actions were not a one-time mistake. According to court documents, he has a history of illegally entering or reentering the United States, with four such instances and three previous deportations. His attempts to conceal his true identity and immigration status ultimately led to his downfall.
The case against Chavez-Paz was prosecuted by Special Assistant US Attorney Emily Eitzen, with the announcement of his guilty plea and sentencing made by First Assistant US Attorney Theophani K. Stamos and Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, DC, Eric Weindorf. Chavez-Paz pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and reentering the United States following a previous removal, receiving a sentence of two years and one day in prison.
This case is part of the broader Operation Take Back America initiative, a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The operation underscores the commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting the identities of US citizens.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Virginia
- Location: VA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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