⏱ 2 min read
Candy Lazo, a 53-year-old Mexican immigrant, has pleaded guilty to impersonating a Mexican woman for over 30 years to obtain immigration documents and benefits in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Lazo, who used multiple aliases including ‘Candida Jimenez Lazo’ and ‘Natalia Perez,’ used the victim’s name and date of birth to obtain a U.S. visa in 1993 and later applied for various government benefits including naturalization, citizenship, passports, and Social Security disability benefits. By stealing the victim’s identity, Lazo was able to fraudulently receive over $89,340 in disability benefits to which she was not entitled.
Lazo’s scheme began to unravel when she applied for benefits using the victim’s identity, which raised red flags with authorities. An investigation was launched, and Lazo was eventually caught and charged with passport fraud and theft of government funds. She pleaded guilty to both charges and will face sentencing at a later date.
The case was investigated by the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Browne are prosecuting the case.
Lazo’s guilty plea marks the end of a decades-long scheme to defraud the U.S. government. Her actions not only stole from the government but also from the real Natalia Perez, who was unaware of Lazo’s impersonation. The case highlights the importance of verifying identities and the need for continued vigilance in preventing identity theft and fraud.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Virginia
- Location: VA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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