Suspected passport fraud nets a dozen

By Bill Lindelof
blindelof@sacbee.com

The law enforcement arm of the U.S. State Department announced today that agents arrested 12 people in the Central Valley this year for suspected passport fraud.

Pat Durken, special agent in charge of the Diplomatic Security Service San Francisco office, said the accused are suspected of applying for a passport using counterfeit, stolen or other unlawfully-obtained documentation, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Among those arrested were Juan Carlos Lopez Hernandez of Woodland and Alexander Sabolovic of Sacramento.

Among their range of duties, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the Secretary of State and investigate passport and visa fraud. In 2008, the Diplomatic Security Service participated in 2,487 arrests around the world, primarily for passport and visa fraud.

Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.

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