Iowa Man Jailed for Passport Scam

Eduardo Rodriguez-Ayala, 39, a Mexican national living in Waterloo, Iowa, was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison on November 25, 2013, for attempting to obtain a U.S. passport using fraudulent documents.

A jury found Rodriguez-Ayala guilty of unlawful possession of an identity document, making false statements in a passport application, two counts of making a false claim of United States citizenship, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on August 10, 2012, Rodriguez-Ayala claimed to be a U.S. citizen and used a fraudulent Arizona birth certificate in his brother’s name to obtain an Iowa identification card and register to vote.

Three days later, Rodriguez-Ayala used the falsely procured Iowa identification card and the fraudulent birth certificate to apply for a U.S. passport. He later gave a false name and date of birth to State Department agents investigating the passport application.

Rodriguez-Ayala eventually admitted to using false documents and his brother’s identity to apply for the U.S. passport.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade sentenced Rodriguez-Ayala to 36 months’ imprisonment, a special assessment of $600, and a 3-year term of supervised release. He is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by agents from the United States Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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