| July 26, 2006 Bureau of Diplomatic Security IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2006 On July 20, 2006, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Special Agents arrested Bradley Douglas Highbarger for passport fraud at his residence on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mr. Highbarger was arrested on a felony criminal warrant based on a criminal complaint that he had committed passport fraud by fraudulently obtaining a U.S. passport under the assumed identity of Douglas Jerome Stien and then used that passport to travel internationally. Diplomatic Security Special Agents from the San Juan Resident Office, assisted by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Virgin Islands police officers assigned to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, made the arrest during a raid on Mr. Highbarger’s residence. During the search of his residence, agents discovered over $20,000 in cash and other indications of illegal activities. Agents from ICE and DEA are still investigating and may pursue additional charges. "Diplomatic Security aggressively targets passport fraud," stated Miami Field Office Special Agent in Charge Edgar Moreno. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands takes all cases of identity theft at the federal level very seriously, especially when illegal drugs are involved. This is a great example of interagency cooperation at the federal and local level, and I would like to commend all the agents, inspectors, and task force officers who conducted this search and arrest," stated U.S. Attorney Anthony Jenkins. "Thanks to the hard work of Diplomatic Security Special Agents and the Assistant U.S. Attorneys assigned to this case, we are sending a message to individuals who are committing passport fraud and drug trafficking that serious time in prison awaits those convicted of this crime." Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Diplomatic Security is the worldwide law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State with special agents assigned to U.S. diplomatic missions overseas and field offices throughout the United States. Diplomatic Security special agents conduct passport and visa fraud investigations worldwide and are responsible for security at 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. Contact: Special Agent Christopher Tremann |
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