Illegal Immigrant Sentenced For Identity Theft And False Citizenship ClaimU.S. Department of Justice Albany, NY April 15, 2008 Glenn T. Suddaby, United States Attorney Northern District of New York United States Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby announced that FRANCISCO EDUARDO MENDEZ, age 36, formerly of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today in Albany, New York by Senior United States District Court Judge Thomas J. McAvoy, to 25 months in federal prison, to be followed by supervised release for one year, upon his convictions for making a false claim of United States citizenship and aggravated identity theft. MENDEZ pled guilty to these charges on December 7, 2007. The convictions arise out MENDEZ’ attempt on September 26, 2007 to conceal his identity and citizenship at the Champlain, New York port of entry. MENDEZ, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, claimed to be a United States citizen named Josue Manuel Laureano and presented a United States Passport, Pennsylvania driver's license, and Puerto Rico birth certificate, all in the name Josue Manuel Laureano, in support of his claim of identity and citizenship during an Immigration inspection at the Champlain, New York, Port of Entry. This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Champlain, New York, and the United States Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service Philadelphia Resident Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Contact: Edward P. Grogan |