Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.

April 11, 2008

EIGHT MORE CHARGED WITH PASSPORT FRAUD AS PART OF OPERATION DUSTBUSTER

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello and Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Durkin announced additional results of Operation Dustbuster, a cold case investigation targeting individuals who made misrepresentations on United States passport applications as far back as 10 years ago.

According to various court records and proceedings, the following eight defendants all made misrepresentations of their identity on applications for United States passports.

KEVIN NGUYEN of San Francisco, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2001 using the birth certificate of his brother. NGUYEN self-surrendered to DSS Special Agents on March 11.

FRANCISCO VIAN of Atwater, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2003 using another person’s birth certificate. VIAN self-surrendered to DSS Special Agents on March 28.

ERIC ESTRADA CASAS of Redwood City, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2002 using another person’s birth certificate. CASAS was arrested by DSS Special Agents on March 27.

JESUS MEDINA of Oakland, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2003 using another person’s birth certificate. MEDINA was arrested by DSS Special Agents on March 27.

FRANCISCO MORENO of Redwood City, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2008 using another person’s birth certificate. MORENO was arrested by DSS Special Agents on March 27.

MAXIMINA MENDEZ of Richmond, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2008 using another person’s birth certificate. MENDEZ was arrested by DSS Special Agents on March 26.

GERBER CALDERON of Novato, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2007 using another person’s birth certificate. CALDERON was arrested by DSS Special Agents on March 27.

PING LY of Sacramento, is alleged to have applied for a passport in 2007 using another person’s birth certificate. LY was arrested by DSS Special Agents on March 3.

Passport fraud is a federal felony with a 10-year statute of limitations. Accordingly, individuals can be prosecuted up to 10 years after submitting a false passport application.

Each of the individuals listed above has been charged with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1542, False Statement in Application for a Passport. Throughout the month of March, these individuals were located by Special Agents of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and were either arrested or voluntarily self-surrendered for federal passport or related false identification document offenses.

Over the past three years, over 75 Bay Area residents have been prosecuted for federal passport offenses in the Northern District of California, which encompasses the San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose metropolitan areas. Anyone with information about false or fraudulently issued passports or visas is encouraged to contact DSS at (415) 705-1176.

The charges contain only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, these defendants must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.