Identity Thief Tavera Mora Cops Plea in Puerto Rico Scam

SPRINGFIELD, MA – A Springfield man is facing serious time after admitting to running a racket trafficking in the stolen identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens. Sandro Tavera Mora, 46, a Dominican national, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court, confessing to a complex scheme that exploited legitimate government documents for illicit profit.

Tavera Mora, also known as Jose Laureano Ayala, admitted to charges of false personation of U.S. citizenship, fraud and misuse of visas, and conspiracy to possess and transfer identification documents. Judge Mark G. Mastroianni has set sentencing for June 22, 2017. The operation, which began around 2011, relied on runners in the Savarona area of Caguas, Puerto Rico, who pilfered identities and the corresponding paperwork.

According to court documents, a network of suppliers and brokers – including Tavera Mora – then peddled these stolen Social Security cards and Puerto Rico birth certificates to customers willing to pay a hefty price. The going rate? Anywhere from $400 to $1,200 per set. Tavera Mora operated as a key broker in Springfield, actively buying, possessing, and selling the sensitive personal information of Puerto Rican residents.

The customers weren’t looking for souvenirs. Tavera Mora admitted he knew these documents were destined for illegal aliens seeking to assume the identities of U.S. citizens. The purpose? To fraudulently obtain further identification and evade federal law, including Social Security fraud and blatant impersonation. He wasn’t just selling paper; he was selling a false life, and profiting from it.

The deception didn’t stop there. Upon his arrest, Tavera Mora attempted to further mislead authorities, identifying himself as “Jose Laureano Ayala,” a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico. He possessed a fake Puerto Rico driver’s license and a fraudulent U.S. Social Security card in that fabricated name. Adding insult to injury, investigators also found a fraudulent Dominican Republic passport with a bogus U.S. visa and a forged Customs and Border Patrol stamp.

Acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb, along with Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco, Acting ICE Director Thomas D. Homan, and Chief Postal Inspector Guy J. Cottrell announced the guilty plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Regan and Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey are prosecuting the case. Potential victims are urged to check their identities and report any concerns to ICE at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or via their online tip form at www.ice.gov/tipline. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/vns/caseup/beltrerj.html.