Crime & Safety

Middle River Man Sent to Prison for Providing False Documents to Illegal Aliens

Jose Oscar Melendez, 40, was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison for identification document fraud.

U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg sentenced Jose Oscar Melendez, 40, of Middle River, today to 30 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for identification document fraud in connection with a scheme to supply illegal aliens with fraudulent birth certificates and social security numbers.

According to Melendez’ plea agreement, from Sept, 21, 2009, through July 6, 2010, Melendez manufactured and sold identity and citizenship documents, including: fake birth certificates purporting to be issued in Rochester, New York; and fake social security number cards.

According to the statement of facts, Melendez worked for an engineering company which was contracted by government entities to perform inspection services at construction sites in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Melendez approached supervisors and others, offering to provide papers for any illegal aliens employed at the work site. 

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According to a news release, when Melendez learned individuals were illegally present in the United States, he  identified himself as an inspector and told the aliens he could help them obtain documents to allow them to work in and travel to and from the U.S.

Melendez admitted that he told the illegal aliens that he could obtain genuine Rochester, N.Y. birth certificates and genuine social security number cards from his government contacts.  In fact, Melendez manufactured the documents, charging between $1,000 and $6,000 for each set.

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Once he was paid, according to the release, Melendez would sometimes accompany the illegal aliens to a U.S.Post Office and assist them in filing for a U.S. passport.  The illegal aliens knew that they were not American citizens and not eligible for a such a passport, as did Melendez. 

According to the release, Melendez assisted at least nine individuals in filing applications for U.S. passports based on fake Rochester, N.Y. birth certificates he had produced; and manufactured between six and 25 identification documents.  Melendez received a total of between $30,000 and $70,000 from the illegal aliens for the fraudulent documents.

Nine illegal aliens, most from South and Central America, were previously indicted in Baltimore, Maryland and Alexandria, Va. charged with making a false statement in their passport application; making a false claim of U.S. citizenship; and using a fraudulent social security number.

According to the news release, the four defendants charged  in Maryland pleaded guilty and are in deportation proceedings after being sentenced to time served.   They are: Bolivian native Ruben Santiago Corrales-Prado, a/k/a “Santiago Prado-Fernandez” and “Santiago Ruben Corrales,” 32, of Falls Church, Va.;  Guatemalan native Hector E. Lemus-Moscoso, 35, of Poolesville; Nicaraguan native Bayardo A. Garcia-Blanco, 48, of Alexandria, Va.; and Bolivian native Isabel Ortuste, 33, of Baltimore. A fifth Maryland defendant, Renan Javier Flores-Ledezma, is a fugitive. Melendez, is a U.S. citizen, and is not subject to deportation.

The four Virginia indictments charge: Argentine natives Felix Ferrufino, 54; his son Victor Simon Ferrufino, 27, both of Woodbridge, Va.; and Bolivian native Abel Marcos Corrales Prado, 25, of Falls Church, Va. and Mongolian native Gerele Todkhuu, 30, of Fairfax, Va. 

All of the defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced.


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