Liene Tavares DeBarros, Jr., Unlawful Transfer of Document or Authentication Feature, Massachusetts 2025

Woburn Man Arrested for Selling Fake Social Security Cards and Green Cards

BOSTON - In a shocking case of identity theft, a Brazilian national residing in Woburn, Massachusetts, was arrested for allegedly selling fraudulent Social Security cards and Legal Permanent Resident cards, often referred to as 'Green Cards.'

Liene Tavares DeBarros, Jr., 39, is charged with one count of unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature. Tavares DeBarros was arrested today and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester.

According to the charging documents, Tavares DeBarros sold a Social Security Number Card and a Green Card to an undercover officer in October 2024 in exchange for $250. In December 2024, Tavares DeBarros allegedly sold two more Social Security cards and Green Cards to the undercover officer in exchange for $500.

The charge of unlawful transfer of document or authentication feature and unlawful production of document or authentication feature provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant will also be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and other officials made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation's Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/brazilian-national-arrested-selling-fake-social-security-cards-and-green-cards