Alfredo Mendoza Montero, a 45-year-old Mexican national, has been sentenced to two years and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to passport fraud, false impersonation of a citizen, 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, Montero entered the United States illegally in 2019 and purchased identification documents belonging to an American citizen. He used these documents to apply for a U.S. passport in 2022 and obtain a Florida driver’s license in 2023. Montero lived under the assumed identity in Pensacola until his arrest by federal authorities on April 1, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “Thanks to the investigative work of our incredible federal law enforcement partners, this criminal illegal alien will be held accountable for stealing the identity of a U.S. citizen that he used to conceal his unlawful presence in our country. Prison and a swift removal from our country awaits him, and should be a warning to others that violations of our immigration laws will not go unpunished.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Miami Field Office commented: “Safeguarding U.S. passports and visas is critical to the Diplomatic Security Service mission and supporting the Trump administration’s goal to make America safer. We are firmly committed to prosecuting criminals who misuse U.S. travel documents to commit fraud, further criminal activity, and endanger the security of our nation.”
Acting Inspector General Michelle L. Anderson added: “This sentencing highlights the seriousness of identity theft, and the extent individuals will go to falsely claim U.S. citizenship to obtain government credentials. By working closely with our law enforcement partners, SSA OIG helped uncover the true victim in this case—a U.S. citizen living in Puerto Rico—who had their identity misused. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of Social Security records and ensuring that those who commit identity-related crimes are brought to justice.”
Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno said: “Identity theft is a serious crime that can have devastating, long-lasting effects on the lives of its victims. It is not a victimless crime; it affects real people, causing emotional distress, financial instability, and legal complications that can take years to resolve. HSI is committed to protecting the integrity of U.S. identification systems and safeguarding the personal information of American citizens.”
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), which brings together resources from across the Department of Justice—including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)—to address illegal immigration issues as well as violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices nationwide serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General.
For more information about public court documents or about this office’s activities visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
