A document broker has pleaded guilty to his role in trafficking the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and corresponding identity documents in Massachusetts.
Sandro Tavera Mora, aka Jose Laureano Ayala, 46, a Dominican citizen residing in Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni of the District of Massachusetts, to false personation of U.S. citizenship, fraud and misuse of visas and conspiracy to possess and transfer identification documents.
According to admissions made in connection with the plea, identity document runners located in the Savarona area of Caguas, Puerto Rico, obtained Puerto Rican identities and corresponding identity documents. Other conspirators located in various cities throughout the United States, identified as identity document suppliers and brokers, solicited customers and sold social security cards and corresponding Puerto Rico birth certificates for prices ranging from $400 to $1,200 per set.
Tavera Mora admitted that he operated as a document broker in Springfield, Massachusetts, buying, possessing, transferring and selling personal identifying information contained in legitimate government documents belonging to residents of Puerto Rico. Tavera Mora further admitted that the customers who purchased these documents were undocumented aliens who would use this information to assume the identity of U.S. citizens in order to apply for other identity documents.
Tavera Mora also admitted that he knew that these customers would use these documents to violate federal law, including social security fraud and the impersonation of a U.S. citizen.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Island Express II, was led by the Chicago offices of ICE-HSI, USPIS, DSS and IRS-CI. HSI Springfield, Massachusetts, and USPIS in Hartford, Connecticut, also provided assistance.
Tavera Mora’s sentencing is set for June 22, 2017.
Anyone who believes their identity may have been compromised in relation to this investigation may contact the ICE toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) and its online tip form at www.ice.gov/tipline.
Tavera Mora, real full name: Sandro Tavera Mora, aka Jose Laureano Ayala.
Exact criminal charges: false personation of U.S. citizenship, fraud and misuse of visas and conspiracy to possess and transfer identification documents.
City and state: Springfield, Massachusetts.
Exact date: July 23, 2015 (superseding indictment), June 22, 2017 (sentencing).
Sentence or outcome: to be determined at sentencing.
Dollar amounts: $400 to $1,200 per set.
Related Federal Cases
- CLASSIC SITE SOLUTIONS, INC. and CHERYL SADY, False Claims Act, Connecticut 2023 · Washington
- Patrick Joseph, Bank and Wire Fraud, Massachusetts 2023 · New Hampshire
- James Joseph Cohen, Bank Fraud, Massachusetts 2022 · New Hampshire
- Yanbing Chen, Money Laundering & Cocaine Trafficking, Massachusetts 2024 · New Hampshire
- David Gil-Grande, Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2016 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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