New Orleans, Louisiana – In a shocking case of identity theft, 19-year-old Honduran man Oliver Martinez-Castro has been sentenced for using a fake Social Security number to obtain employment.
According to court documents, Martinez-Castro submitted a fraudulent Form I-9 application on June 14, 2019 in order to obtain employment with a local company. He attested on the form that he was someone else and that he was a United States citizen. He used a fraudulent Social Security card in the name of the other person which also contained that person’s actual Social Security number as verification.
In order to finalize employment with that company, Martinez-Castro was required to take a safety course at another location on June 18, 2019. He once again provided the fraudulent Social Security card as proof of his identity, but an employee suspected the card was fraudulent and alerted Customs and Border Protection. Subsequent record checks confirmed his real identity as well as the fact that he was in the country illegally.
United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of United States Customs and Border Protection and Social Security Administration agents in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.
Martinez-Castro was sentenced to time served (2 months of imprisonment), and a $100 special assessment fee. The defendant will be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.
Oliver Martinez-Castro, a native of Honduras, was charged with violating Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), which prohibits the misuse of Social Security numbers.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying the identity of employees and the consequences of using fake Social Security numbers to obtain employment.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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