Pennsylvania Man Receives Two-Year Prison Sentence for Passport Fraud and Identity Theft to Prevent Deportation

A Luzerne County resident has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for submitting a fraudulent passport application and engaging in aggravated identity theft. Jose Arturo Perez Ramirez, 35, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, was handed down the sentence by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley on January 28, 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.

The prosecution stemmed from Perez Ramirez’s actions involving the misuse of another individual’s identity. Records indicate that Perez Ramirez was ordered to be removed from the United States in 2019, following his failure to appear for immigration proceedings. Subsequently, in 2020, he obtained the identity documents of a U.S. citizen. Using these stolen documents, Perez Ramirez successfully applied for and received a U.S. passport, which he then used to reside in the United States under the assumed identity. This act of deception allowed him to live in the country unlawfully while posing as another person. The conviction and subsequent sentencing highlight the federal government’s efforts to prosecute individuals who exploit fraudulent documents and identities to circumvent immigration laws and gain unauthorized access to U.S. systems.

The U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

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