Man who assumed identity of serviceman gets 2 years in prison

PHOENIX -- A Mexican man who tried to assume the identity of an American serviceman so he could remain in the United States has been sentenced to two years in prison.


Cirilo Espino Ibarra, 26, was also ordered Friday by a federal judge to pay $2,306 in restitution.

Espino Ibarra pleaded guilty on March 1 to felony offenses of false statements on a passport application and an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Espino Ibarra tried to secure a passport from a Mesa office on Jan. 13, 2003, so he could travel back and forth to his native Mexico.

On the passport application, prosecutors said Espino Ibarra falsely used the name, birth date and place of birth of a California man who was on active duty in the Air Force and stationed in Japan.

The unidentified serviceman told authorities that Espino Ibarra's actions caused problems with his income taxes and credit history.

Authorities said Espino Ibarra fraudulently bought a pickup truck using the identity of the serviceman and was found to be in possession of a semiautomatic pistol with an obliterated serial number when he was arrested in August 2004.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.








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