Wilmer A. Garcia-Lopez, Identity Theft, Louisiana 2019

Identity Thief Sentenced to Time Served in Louisiana

A Guatemalan man has been sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to using a fake Social Security number to obtain employment in Louisiana.

Wilmer A. Garcia-Lopez, age 22, submitted a fraudulent Form I-9 application on June 14, 2019, to get a job with a local company. He used a fake Social Security card containing the Social Security number of a real United States citizen as verification.

According to court documents, Garcia-Lopez was in the United States illegally, and photographic evidence proved that he and the victim were different people.

On September 5, 2019, United States District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced Garcia-Lopez to time served and a $100 special assessment fee. The defendant will be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations agents in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Wilmer A. Garcia-Lopez

Criminal Charges: Illegally using a Social Security number in order to obtain employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B)

City and State: New Orleans, Louisiana

Exact Date: September 5, 2019 (sentencing)

Sentence: Time served and a $100 special assessment fee

Defendant Status: Surrendered to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/guatemalan-man-sentenced-illegally-using-social-security-number-obtain-employment