Jennifer Leyva, Identity Theft and Document Fraud, Kansas 2023

In a stunning twist of justice, Jennifer Leyva, a 35-year-old woman from Peru, has been charged with identity theft and document fraud after authorities in Wichita, Kan., uncovered a sophisticated scheme that spanned several years. The defendant arrived in the United States in 2005 on a visitor’s visa and allegedly remained despite her immigration status.

Leyva, who has resided in Wichita since at least 2013, stands accused of using at least three different identities to secure employment at various businesses within the city. Her arrest came this week after an extensive investigation by the Kansas Department of Labor and Homeland Security Investigations.

The federal grand jury indicted Leyva on March 16, charging her with ten counts, including two counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of identity document fraud, two counts of lying on an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form, and four counts of misuse of a Social Security number. The charges are directly related to her employment at health care-related businesses in Wichita.

In the event of conviction, Leyva faces up to five years in prison for each count, with fines totaling $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is tasked with prosecuting this case. As with any criminal proceeding, Jennifer Leyva is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The charges against Leyva highlight the lengths some individuals will go to secure employment and evade detection by law enforcement. The Wichita community remains on edge as they await the outcome of this high-profile case.