Illegal Alien Sentenced For Making False Statements In U.S. Passport Application, Aggravated ID TheftU.S. Department of JusticeBoston, MA November 7, 2007 Michael J. Sullivan, United States Attorney District of Massachusetts An illegal alien formerly a resident of Lynn, MA, was sentenced today in federal court for making false statements in an application for U.S. passport, misrepresentation of a Social Security number, falsely representing himself as a U.S. citizen, and aggravated identity theft. United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; James Ennis, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service in New England; Christopher Tremann, Resident Agent in Charge of the Resident Office of Diplomatic Security Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New England; and Jeff Paula, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, announced today that PEDRO JOSE VIDAL-REYES, a/k/a PEDRO LUIS RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a PEDRO LUIS RODRIGUEZ TRINIDAD (“VIDAL-REYES”), age 43, formerly of 163 Central Avenue, Lynn, MA, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro to 15 months’ imprisonment on Counts One, Two and Three of the superseding indictment, to be followed by 24 months’ imprisonment on Count Four of the superseding indictment. Judge Tauro also sentenced VIDAL-REYES to two years of supervised release following his release from imprisonment. On July 24, 2007, VIDAL-REYES pleaded guilty to the three counts of misrepresentation of a Social Security account number, false representation of United States citizenship, and making false statements in an application for a U.S. passport. On September 20, 2007, he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. At the earlier plea hearings, the prosecutor told the Court that, had the case proceeded to trial, the evidence would have proven that VIDAL-REYES is an illegal alien, whose country o fcitizenship is the Dominican Republic. The evidence would also have shown that on February 4, 2000, an individual identifying himself as Pedro Luis Rodriguez executed an application for a United States passport (known as a “DSP-11") at the United States Post Office in Lynn, MA. For proof of identity and citizenship, the individual, later identified as VIDAL-REYES, presented a Massachusetts Driver’s License in the name of “Pedro Luis Rodriguez” and a Puerto Rican birth certificate in the name of “Pedro Luis Rodriguez Trinidad.” On the DSP-11 application, VIDAL-REYES provided a false Social Security account number. The DSP-11 application bore the photograph of VIDAL-REYES, and identified VIDAL-REYES as “Pedro Luis Rodriguez.” On July 15, 2002, an individual identifying himself as Pedro Luis Rodriguez again executed a DSP-11 application and a DS-64 (“Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport”) for a United States passport at the United States Post Office in Lynn, MA. On the DS-64, this individual had stated that his place of birth was San Juan, Puerto Rico, and that his U.S. passport had been “destroyed by fire.” For proof of identity and citizenship, the individual, later identified as VIDAL-REYES, presented a Massachusetts Driver’s License in the name of “Pedro Luis Rodriguez” and a Puerto Rican Birth Certificate in the name of “Pedro Luis Rodriguez Trinidad.” On the DSP-11 application, VIDAL-REYES again provided a false Social Security account number, a false birth date, and falsely stated that his place of birth was San Juan, Puerto Rico. The DSP-11 application bore the photograph of VIDAL-REYES, and identified VIDAL-REYES as “Pedro Luis Rodriguez.” In or about January of 2006, VIDAL-REYES, again using the name “Pedro Luis Rodriguez,” a false Social Security number, and a false birth date, wrote a letter addressed to the Department of Health and Demographic Registry, which is located in Puerto Rico, and requested a birth certificate in the name of “Pedro Luis Rodriguez.” In the letter, VIDAL-REYES also stated that he was a U.S. citizen, and enclosed a copy of his fraudulent U.S. passport in the name of Pedro Luis Rodriguez. On June 1, 2006, DSS agents interviewed VIDAL-REYES. VIDAL-REYES admitted at that time that he had executed the aforementioned passport applications in the name of “Pedro Luis Rodriguez,” and that his signature as well as his photograph were depicted on the applications. He also admitted that his true name is “Pedro Jose Vidal-Reyes,” and that he is a citizen of the Dominican Republic. Upon completion of his prison sentence, VIDAL-REYES faces deportation to his native Dominican Republic. The case was investigated by the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New England, and the U.S. Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette E.M. Leoney of Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit. Contact: Christina DiIorio-Sterling |
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