Identity Thief Sentenced to 3 Years

Tampa, FL – In a shocking case of deception, Jose Avianeda-Espinoza, a 44-year-old Hillsborough County resident, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for making material false representations to an agency of the United States, making false statements as to his citizenship, and aggravated identity theft.

Avianeda-Espinoza, a citizen of Mexico, used a U.S. citizen’s identity for nearly 17 years to obtain a number of government identifications and to avoid deportation. In December 2015, he gave a false name to deportation officers and falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen. He subsequently recanted his claim, however, and admitted to being a citizen of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States.

This cat-and-mouse game continued for months, with Avianeda-Espinoza appearing before an immigration judge and reasserting his claim to United States citizenship, providing a false name to the court and relying on a stolen birth certificate from Puerto Rico. He subsequently repeated his false claim to immigration officers.

The case against Avianeda-Espinoza was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Fugitive Operation Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell.

Avianeda-Espinoza pleaded guilty to the charges on August 3, 2016. This sentencing marks the end of a long and complex case that highlights the importance of immigration enforcement and the consequences of identity theft.

The sentencing of Avianeda-Espinoza serves as a warning to those who would attempt to deceive the system and exploit the trust of others. It is a reminder that identity theft and false citizenship claims will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and severe consequences.

As the investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate, the Grimy Times will continue to expose the truth behind identity theft and other white-collar crimes, and bring those responsible to justice.

The 3-year prison sentence is a fitting punishment for Avianeda-Espinoza’s crimes, and a testament to the dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors to upholding the law and protecting the integrity of our immigration system.