Woman sentenced for ID theft

Social Security cards involved

By SEAN O'SULLIVAN • The News Journal • November 4, 2008


A Puerto Rico native was sentenced to time served Monday by Chief District Judge Gregory M. Sleet for her involvement in an identity paperwork black market.

Sharon G. Aguayo-Rivera, 32, was part of a scheme that involved the purchase and resale of more than 80 identity documents from Puerto Rico. She pleaded guilty to three charges related to identity theft in October, admitting that between March 2005 and March 2006, she was involved in the illegal sale of at least five sets of documents.

According to court papers, Aguayo-Rivera received packages from Puerto Rico, New York and Massachusetts that contained the documents.

Federal prosecutors said this kind of scheme has become common, as black-market organizers purchase legitimate documents, including Social Security cards and birth certificates, from the ill or drug-addicted in Puerto Rico to sell to undocumented workers in the United States, who need them to get jobs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward McAndrew said at least 14 of the 80 documents that passed through Aguayo-Rivera's hands were used by undocumented workers in Delaware to illegally obtain employment.

Through an interpreter, Aguayo-Rivera apologized to the court on Monday for her actions and begged forgiveness. "I want to make amends for every bad thing I have done," she said.

At the conclusion of proceedings, Aguayo-Rivera was set to be transported back to Puerto Rico by probation officials.

Her attorney, Larrick Stapleton, told Sleet that his client had a 'horrendous" life that included being sexually assaulted as a teenager and a recent suicide attempt.

It was also noted in court that Aguayo-Rivera had four children and has lost custody of all of them to the four fathers.

Sleet advised Aguayo-Rivera to get a job as a first step to putting her life back on track and regaining custody of her children.

Sleet's sentence of time served -- about seven months -- was below the federal guideline range of 15 to 18 months in prison.

A co-defendant in the case, Jose Antonio Torres, has also pleaded guilty but has not been sentenced.

Contact Sean O'Sullivan at 324-2777 or sosullivan@delawareonline.com.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... /811040352