Jury Finds Guatemalan National Guilty of Using U.S. Citizen’s Information to Work Illegally in the United States

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury today found Sindi Yamileth Mejia Avila (22, Guatemala) guilty of aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number (SSN), and false claim of United States citizenship. Avila faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2025.

According to evidence presented at trial, Avila used a U.S. citizen’s personal identifying information to apply for a construction job in the Middle District of Florida. Avila obtained a fake North Carolina driver license in the U.S. citizen’s real name and date of birth but displaying Avila’s photo. She also obtained a fake Social Security card listing the U.S. citizen’s real name and SSN. Avila submitted these fake documents with her I-9 work authorization form when she applied for the construction job. On the I-9 form Avila falsely claimed that the U.S. citizen’s name, date of birth, and status as a United States citizen was her own.   

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karyna Valdes and Lindsey Schmidt.