"John Doe" Convicted of Passport Fraud

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:

BOSTON - A Roslindale man, identified only as John Doe, was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston in connection with using a U.S. citizen’s identity for more than 11 years. The U.S. citizen died in Puerto Rico in 2018.

Doe, whose true identity is unknown, was convicted by a federal jury of making a false statement on a passport application. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 22, 2019.

On an unknown date, Doe obtained the birth certificate of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, and used it to obtain various identification documents, including a Social Security card, a Massachusetts liquor identification card, a Massachusetts driver’s license and a MassHealth card. 

On May 14, 2008, Doe walked into a U.S. Postal Office in Roxbury and submitted a passport application with his picture attached, but used the U.S. citizen’s name and identifiers. The passport was ultimately issued. In July 2018, when the passport was about to expire, Doe sent in a passport renewal application in the false identity. In September 2018, when his renewed passport did not arrive, Doe went to the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, N.H., to check on his application. He was subsequently arrested and has remained in custody since that time.

Law enforcement began investigating Doe after he pleaded guilty to a 2010 involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery charge after throwing a glass at a young man’s neck in a Boston bar. Doe was prosecuted and served his jail time under the U.S. citizen’s identity.

The charge of making a false statement on a passport application provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration; and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Tobin and Mackenzie Queenin of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON - A Roslindale man, identified only as John Doe, was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston in connection with using a U.S. citizen’s identity for more than 11 years. The U.S. citizen died in Puerto Rico in 2018.

Doe, whose true identity is unknown, was convicted by a federal jury of making a false statement on a passport application. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 22, 2019.

On an unknown date, Doe obtained the birth certificate of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, and used it to obtain various identification documents, including a Social Security card, a Massachusetts liquor identification card, a Massachusetts driver’s license and a MassHealth card. 

On May 14, 2008, Doe walked into a U.S. Postal Office in Roxbury and submitted a passport application with his picture attached, but used the U.S. citizen’s name and identifiers. The passport was ultimately issued. In July 2018, when the passport was about to expire, Doe sent in a passport renewal application in the false identity. In September 2018, when his renewed passport did not arrive, Doe went to the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, N.H., to check on his application. He was subsequently arrested and has remained in custody since that time.

Law enforcement began investigating Doe after he pleaded guilty to a 2010 involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery charge after throwing a glass at a young man’s neck in a Boston bar. Doe was prosecuted and served his jail time under the U.S. citizen’s identity.

The charge of making a false statement on a passport application provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration; and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Tobin and Mackenzie Queenin of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.