Thread: IN: False ID case leads to probation

False ID case leads to probation

By Stan Maddux Times Correspondent | Posted: Friday, October 7, 2011 11:15 pm | (18 ) Comments

LAPORTE | An illegal immigrant from LaPorte has been sentenced for using the Social Security number of a woman in the state of Washington.

Armondo Sanchez told investigators he obtained the number when he first came here in 1991, but did not reveal how he acquired the nine-digit code, according to LaPorte County police in its written findings submitted to the court.

Sanchez, 38, under a plea agreement, was given a six-month suspended sentence in the LaPorte County Jail and ordered to serve one-year probation on Class A misdemeanor deception.

Any violation of the terms of probation could result in Sanchez serving the suspended sentence behind bars, according to courtroom officials.

The woman in Washington contacted LaPorte County police after applying for Social Security benefits in June and being told by Social Security administration officials that someone else had been using her numbers for at least the past 15 years.

The case was assigned to Detective Brian Piergalski, who said the woman had no idea her number was being used by another person. She has been in the banking industry for long time and ran a credit check, Piergalski said.

The check showed her credit apparently had not been damaged because the number had not been used by anyone else to obtain loans or any other lines or credit, or perform any illegal activity, Piergalski said.

When he came to the U.S., Sanchez told police he acquired the numbers to obtain employment and didn't know to whom they belonged or if they belonged to a legitimate person, according to court documents.

He did not reveal how he obtained the numbers.

Authorities said Sanchez also used the number to obtain an Indiana driver's license and used it to report his employment income on W-2 tax forms, police said.

According to court documents, Sanchez said he has worked at Louie's Cafe at 920 Lincolnway since 1994.

The owner, Louie Vasilarakos, told police he simply had Sanchez when he first began working for him write down on a piece of paper his Social Security number and other personal information for tax purposes.

He never showed an actual Social Security card, according to court records.

According to police, Vasilarakos described Sanchez as an "excellent employee."

The victim told investigators that when she contacted the business about Sanchez using her number, "Louie's begged her not to call immigration and customs," court records disclosed.

According to courtroom officials, Sanchez was free to go because he was convicted only of a misdemeanor. A felony conviction would have meant a potential hold being placed on him for possible deportation.

LaPorte County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Fronk said cases involving illegal immigrants using false Social Security are rare locally.

"In my years of being a prosecutor, I have never seen it charged. It's just not something you see very often," said Fronk, who's been a prosecutor for 15 years.

http://oneoldvet.com/

www.nwitimes.com

It still amazes me that the SSA doesn't report suspicious use of a SS# to the holder of that # until benefits become involved.

It must be by design.

He did not reveal how he obtained the numbers.

And rest assured, nobody in this government pressed him too hard on how he obtained the numbers either!

The check showed her credit apparently had not been damaged because the number had not been used by anyone else to obtain loans or any other lines or credit, or perform any illegal activity, Piergalski said.

Hello!!!! Used it to get a job, and that's illegal!!!!!

They didn't use it to get credit, because they didn't know the owners name.

Dixie