Carlos Dominguez Lopez, a 36-year-old Mexican national living in Pensacola, Florida, has pleaded guilty to making a false statement in a passport application and aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to court documents, Lopez posed as another person in July 2022 when he applied for a U.S. passport at the Escambia County Clerk of Court Office. He used that individual’s birth certificate and identification card without their consent. After submitting the false information, Lopez was issued a U.S. passport.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “This defendant tried to lie, cheat, and steal his way into unlawfully remaining in our country, but thanks to the outstanding work by our federal law enforcement partners he will face justice before being swiftly deported. My office remains committed to aggressively enforcing our immigration laws with as many successful prosecutions as it takes to ensure our border is secure and our communities are safe from criminal aliens.”
Lopez could receive up to ten years in prison and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years that must be served consecutively.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of State and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
Sentencing is set for February 10, 2026 at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice focused on combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida acts as one of 94 principal litigating offices nationwide under direction from the Attorney General. More information about this office can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
