Jose Gonzalez Vizcaino Charged in Boston Identity Theft Scheme

Jose Gonzalez Vizcaino, a Dominican national, was indicted in federal court in Boston on charges of identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number, federal prosecutors announced today. The case exposes a years-long scheme in which Vizcaino allegedly stole the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico to illegally obtain state driving documents.

Vizcaino faces two counts of misuse of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. The charges stem from two visits to Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles offices in 2014. On March 11, 2014, he used the victim’s full name, date of birth, and Social Security number to apply for a learner’s permit. Then, on May 19, 2014, he returned and used the same stolen information to apply for a full driver’s license.

Court documents reveal that the identity theft went undetected for years before federal authorities moved to arrest Vizcaino in February 2018. He was initially charged by criminal complaint and has been in custody since. The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with support from state motor vehicle authorities who flagged the fraudulent applications.

If convicted, Vizcaino could face up to five years in prison on each count of Social Security number misuse, with a maximum $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that must run consecutively—meaning it’s added on top of any other sentence imposed.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Boston, confirmed the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. Federal officials emphasized that the charges are allegations, and Vizcaino is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

Upon completion of any sentence, Vizcaino will be subject to deportation proceedings. The case is another reminder of how stolen identities are exploited to bypass government systems—and how federal and state agencies are cracking down on fraud at critical checkpoints like motor vehicle registries.