Agents Arrest Foreigner Using Fraudulent Documents to Fly to NYC

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers arrested Friday an alien man using fraudulent documents prior to boarding a domestic flight at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport bound to the city of New York.

Juan Bautista Martinez-Ascencio, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, made an initial appearance Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marshall Morgan, for charges of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546, for fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents.

“Aliens illegally present in the United States, as well as criminals, obtain counterfeit identity documents or stolen documents to assume the identity from a US citizen from Puerto Rico,” indicated Edwin Cruz, San Juan Area Port Director. “Our officers are trained to detect fraudulent documents and bring impostors to justice.”

On Mar. 15, during pre-boarding inspections authorized by federal law, Mr Martinez-Ascencio claimed to be a citizen of the United States by the name of “Carlos Oscar Rodriguez-Melendez,” providing a Puerto Rico driver’s license, a social security card and a Puerto Rico birth certificate.

CBP Officers referred Mr Martinez-Ascencio to further examination, as the documents he presented did not appear to be genuine. Further inspection revealed his identity, to which the defendant indicated purchasing the documents to be able to live and work in the United States.

Special Assistant US Attorney Cristina Caraballo is prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Puerto Rico.

If convicted, Mr Martinez-Ascencio faces imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or a fine, or both.

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