ESCONDIDO: Suspected illegal immigrant accused of identity theft

Posted: Thursday, April 7, 2011 10:39 pm

ESCONDIDO ---- A suspected illegal immigrant from Mexico was arrested this week on suspicion of working in Escondido under a stolen identity and Social Security number, a police lieutenant said.

Eduardo Cervantes Aguila, 42, used a fake California driver's license and Social Security card to gain employment and had been working under the alias since 2005, police Lt. Craig Carter said. Police arrested Aguila on Wednesday at his place of work, Carter said.

Carter said the theft came to light when the Internal Revenue Service contacted the person whose identity had been stolen to tell him he owed more than $17,000 in unpaid taxes. Once it was determined the man was a victim of identity theft, the man filed a report with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, which in turn forwarded the case to Escondido police because the theft occurred in Escondido.

Aguila was booked into the Vista jail on suspicion of two felonies: identity theft and use of false citizenship documents, according to the jail's online booking records. Federal immigration agents also placed a hold on his release.

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