CA - Man admits using stolen identity for 37 years

March 1, 2018


A Tijuana man pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego on Thursday to masquerading as a U.S. citizen for 37 years to illegally enter the country and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal, state and local government benefits.

Andres Avelino Anduaga, 66, admitted during a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Schopler that he stole the identity of an American citizen in 1980, using the victim's birth certificate to apply for a Social Security number and, later, for disability benefits in his name.

From 1989 until 2016, Anduaga received almost $250,000 in Supplemental Security Income benefits and over $100,000 in health benefits in the name of his victim, according to prosecutors.

Anduaga also conceded that during an interview with federal agents in 2015, he falsely claimed to be living in the United States, as required for an individual receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, when in fact he was residing in Baja California.

Anduaga also admitted to illegally seeking CalFresh/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits from San Diego County by impersonating the same victim and thereafter fraudulently taking more than $12,000 in additional government benefits.

As a part of his plea, Anduaga admitted that he is not an American citizen and that he has been deported from the United States on at least two prior occasions under yet another name.

Anduaga admitted that despite being deported from the country, he was able to travel freely between the United States and Mexico using the U.S.passport he had applied for in the name of his victim, using the same birth certificate and fraudulently-obtained Social Security number he used to defraud the government for decades.

As a part of his plea agreement, Anduaga agreed to pay full restitution to the Social Security Administration, the California Department of Health Care Services, and San Diego County for the roughly $360,000 in government benefits he fraudulently obtained by his crimes.

Anduaga faces up to 12 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $971,800 at his sentencing, scheduled for May 29.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...301-story.html

Look at all the money wasted on him, from SS payments to lawyers to processing personnel, oh my god, these people aren't worth it, they really aren't. 1 out of 30 million. Lord help us.

bttt

3 hours ago

Illegal immigrant from Mexico pleads guilty to using fake identity to steal $361,000 in government benefits

Fox News

A Mexican national has confessed to stealing the identity of an American citizen, and over the course of 37 years pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in government benefits.

Andres Avelino Anduaga, 66 – who hails from Tijuana, Mexico – admitted in San Diego federal court on Thursday that he assumed the fake identity of a Texas resident named Abraham Riojos in 1980 after obtaining a fraudulent birth certificate, and then successfully applied for a California driver’s license, Social Security number and passport.

From 1989 to 2016, according to the plea agreement, he received around $361,000 in benefits -- which included Medi-Cal, food stamps and Supplemental Security Income benefits.

The fake identity also enabled Anduaga – identified as an illegal immigrant and repeat felon– to go back-and-forth without restriction between Mexico and the United States, which he was alleged to have been doing multiple times per week.

”The programs that this defendant stole from – for decades – provide benefits to America’s most needy. This prosecution demonstrates the commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office to protecting the integrity of our welfare programs and punishing those who prey on the goodwill of our nation and its taxpayers,” stated U.S Attorney Adam Braverman.

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Investigators also located the real Abraham Riojos, now residing in Florida, who said he had no indication that his identity had deceitfully been used for so long. Authorities have not made clear how Anduaga feigned the identity, but it is believed the two did not know each other and never made contact.

Anduaga is required to pay back the full amount of government funds he fraudulently received, and faces twelve years behind bars and additional fines.

Sentencing is slated for May 29.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/04/illegal-immigrant-from-mexico-pleads-guilty-to-using-fake-identity-to-steal-361000-in-government-benefits.html

Mexican who stole U.S. benefits for 37 years sentenced to federal prison