Nicaraguan National Pleads Guilty to ID Fraud in Gulfport

GULFPORT, MS – Darling Antonio Ordenana-Rosales, 24, a Nicaraguan national illegally present in the United States, copped a plea today in federal court, admitting to a scheme involving fraudulent identification documents. U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden accepted the guilty plea, bringing Ordenana-Rosales one step closer to facing the consequences for his actions.

The bust went down on July 23, 2020, when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent, working as part of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) task force, spotted Ordenana-Rosales working at the Mississippi State Port. The agent, accompanied by a Harrison County Sheriff’s Office Deputy also on the HSI task force, quickly determined that Ordenana-Rosales wasn’t who he claimed to be. He was using the name and Social Security Number belonging to a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico to secure employment.

Federal investigators, with help from the contractor employing Ordenana-Rosales and Port of Gulfport officials, obtained a copy of the I-9 form he’d submitted. The form contained a Social Security card and a Louisiana identification card – both quickly confirmed as outright fakes. The evidence pointed to a calculated effort to deceive authorities and gain unauthorized access to the U.S. labor market. Ordenana-Rosales was promptly arrested, revealing his illegal entry into the country.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Gilbert Trill, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI New Orleans, announced the guilty plea, signaling a continued crackdown on immigration-related crimes. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to safeguard the integrity of our immigration system and prevent exploitation of U.S. citizens’ identities.

Ordenana-Rosales is now scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. He’s looking at a maximum sentence of 10 years behind federal bars, followed by three years of supervised release. A hefty fine of up to $250,000 could also be levied. This isn’t just about a fake ID; it’s about undermining the legal framework of our nation.

Hurst praised the collaborative work of Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Port of Gulfport. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is handling the prosecution, ensuring that justice is served in this case of blatant fraud and illegal entry. This investigation serves as a warning: attempting to circumvent the law will be met with swift and decisive action.

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