HSI Arrests Identity Illegal Jamaican National for Aggravated Identity Theft

Cory Howard was living in North Carolina in 2011. While reviewing his credit report, he realized that an unknown person in the state of Florida had opened a Wells Fargo bank account using his personal information. After doing some investigating, Howard learned that the bank account was associated with a Tampa, Fla., address, and he contacted the Tampa Police Department for assistance.

A Tampa Police Department detective embarked on an investigation. Using ATM transaction videos and the address associated with the Wells Fargo bank account, she tracked down Howard's impersonator via a traffic stop. The driver, however, did not present a Florida driver's license bearing Howard's information. Instead, he presented a Florida license indicating that his name was Miguel Cruz. When the detective analyzed both licenses, the images on the licenses bearing both Cruz and Howard's name appeared to be the same person. The driver of the vehicle also appeared to be the same person in the ATM videos.

But was this individual really Cruz?

The detective didn't believe so, and that's why she reached out to Tampa's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents. HSI special agents are highly trained to identify document and benefit fraud.

"Our special agents didn't leave one stone unturned, searching immigration records and working with law enforcement entities in Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands to identify the impersonator," said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge Sue McCormick.

After comparing arrest records and fingerprint samples, the HSI special agents determined that the impersonator was actually Lynval Thompson, a Jamaican national who was illegally residing in the United States.

On Friday, January 11, 2013, Thompson was sentenced to two years in federal prison and one year of supervised release for aggravated identity theft. He will be deported to Jamaica after he completes his prison sentence.

How do you protect yourself from identity theft?

·                             Shred paperwork with personal identifying information before discarding.

·                             Be aware of your surroundings at ATMs. Protect your PIN and account numbers.

·                             Do not enter your credit card number on the Internet (unless you are using a secure site).

·                             Monitor your credit report and bank account statements.

·                             Do not provide personal information to people you do not know. 

Haitian National Pleads Guilty to Violating TSA Security Program

A Haitian national pleaded guilty Oct. 18 for violating the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) security program. This plea comes as a result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) in New York.

Benedick Dextra, aka Benedick Louis, 44, pleaded guilty to violations of entry into a seaport under false pretenses. The investigation revealed Dextra obtained fraudulent documents under the name of Benedick Louis. He then used these illegal documents to obtain a New York State (NYS) driver's license, and a TWIC, which allowed him access to secure areas, such as container terminals in Port Elizabeth, N.J.

"Today's guilty plea by Benedick Dextra for obtaining access to secure areas of the New York City seaport through fraud is a first of its kind," said James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York. "The investigation conducted by HSI and our Border Enforcement Security Task Force partners, namely the Federal Air Marshal Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, underscores our commitment to protecting America's ports."

"We are proud of the efforts made by Supervisory Federal Air Marshal Osbert Orduna in this case," said Robert S. Bray, director of TSA's Federal Air Marshal Service. "This joint investigation further exemplifies the partnerships between all of our DHS components."

In 2009, as part of a routine customs inspection, Benedick Dextra was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as his truck exited a terminal at Port Elizabeth. Dextra presented a TWIC credential bearing the name Benedick Louis. Subsequent checks revealed that Benedick Louis and Benedick Dextra were the same individual. He was arrested October 22, 2010, and charged with violating the TWIC program.

The TWIC program is a TSA-led security initiative that ensures individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system.

To obtain a TWIC, an individual must provide biographic and biometric information such as fingerprints, be photographed and successfully pass a security threat assessment conducted by TSA. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels and outer continental shelf facilities.

BEST is comprised of federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement counterparts, working together to develop a comprehensive approach to identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations posing significant threats to border security, seaports and maritime ports of entry. The New York BEST is composed of HSI, the Federal Air Marshal Service, CBP, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, Coast Guard Investigative Services, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the National Guard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Gatz for the Eastern District of New York is prosecuting the case.

California Man Pleads Guilty to Forging Driver's Licenses

A Fresno man pleaded guilty Monday, August 20, 2012, in federal court to conspiring to unlawfully produce California driver's licenses, following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Investigations Division, Office of Internal Affairs.

According to court documents, Yadwinder Singh, 50, recruited recipients in a scheme to sell fraudulently obtained commercial driver's licenses. Singh would pass on information he obtained from potential recipients to former DMV technician Alfonso Casarez, who then proceeded to alter the electronic DMV records to make it appear as though the recipients had passed the required written and behind-the-wheel tests, causing the DMV to automatically issue a genuine license.

Singh found his clients by waiting outside the Fresno DMV offices and approaching DMV visitors with an offer to assist them in obtaining commercial licenses without the need to pass the required tests. Another of his recruiting methods involved having clients complete a DMV application and receiving rudimentary instruction from Singh in operating a commercial truck. Upon giving Singh a substantial "tuition" payment, participants would be informed they had passed. A portion of that payment would go to Casarez, who would facilitate the unlawful issuance of the license.

Singh is schedule to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill Oct. 29. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal, III and Grant B. Rabenn.