Juan Manuel Mata-Cruz, a 33-year-old Mexican national living unlawfully in the United States, has been sentenced to 5 months in federal prison for attempting to gain access to secure airport operations using forged documents. The Tulsa resident lied on federal paperwork to obtain an Airport Security Identification Badge, a move federal prosecutors say endangered national security.
On November 9, 2018, Mata-Cruz filled out application forms for a security badge required for his new job as a restaurant worker at Tulsa International Airport (TIA). He falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen and submitted a counterfeit green card and a fraudulent Social Security number. The badge would have granted him unrestricted access to the aircraft operating area — a high-security zone restricted to vetted personnel only.
U.S. District Court Judge Gregory K. Frizzell handed down the sentence, which includes 5 months in federal prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. Upon release, Mata-Cruz will be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings. He has been in federal custody since his arrest on the same day he submitted the falsified documents.
“Illegal aliens attempting to illegally access our critical infrastructure with fake green cards is disconcerting,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “This defendant put at risk the safety and security of passengers, airport employees and aircrews.” Shores emphasized that Mata-Cruz’s attempt was quickly exposed due to rigorous federal screening protocols and interagency coordination.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), the Social Security Administration/Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), and the Tulsa Airport Security Office. Authorities credited the swift detection to cross-agency vigilance and adherence to security vetting standards designed to protect U.S. transportation systems.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin prosecuted the case. Federal officials reiterated that airport workers undergo strict background checks, and any attempt to circumvent the process — especially by individuals ineligible due to immigration status or criminal history — will be met with full legal consequences. Mata-Cruz’s case serves as a stark warning against exploiting critical infrastructure for unauthorized access.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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