Andres Avelino Anduaga, 66, of Tijuana, Mexico, admitted in federal court to stealing $360,908.85 in government benefits over 37 years by impersonating an American citizen. The elaborate fraud began in 1980 when Anduaga used a stolen birth certificate to apply for a Social Security number and build a false identity, slipping through the cracks of federal oversight for decades.
Between 1989 and 2016, Anduaga collected $243,000 in Supplemental Security Income and over $100,000 in health benefits under the victim’s name. He also fraudulently obtained $12,000 in CalFresh (SNAP) benefits from San Diego County while living in Tijuana, Mexico — a direct violation of program rules. During a 2015 interview with federal agents, he lied about residing in the U.S., the very requirement needed to qualify for the benefits he was collecting.
Anduaga, who is not a U.S. citizen, admitted to being deported at least twice under another alias. Despite those removals, he used a U.S. passport issued under the stolen identity — complete with the fraudulently obtained Social Security number — to move freely across the border, sustaining his criminal charade for decades without detection.
He pleaded guilty to Theft of Public Property under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 641, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $721,817.70 fine, and to Removed Alien Found in the United States under Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1326(a). With both charges, Anduaga now faces up to 12 years behind bars and a total potential fine of $971,817.70.
As part of his plea agreement, Anduaga has agreed to pay full restitution to the Social Security Administration, the California Department of Health Care Services, and the County of San Diego. His sentencing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge John A. Houston on May 29, 2018.
“The programs that this defendant stole from – for decades – provide benefits to America’s most needy,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “This prosecution demonstrates the commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office to protecting the integrity of our welfare programs and punishing those who prey on the goodwill of our nation and its taxpayers.”
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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