3 accused of Puerto Rico-based, ID-theft ring

Posted by Press Release on August 31, 2016

Three men were charged in connection with a Puerto Rican-based, identity-theft ring, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Luz Ramos-Correa, 39, of Landisville, Pa., and Marta Ruiz-Correa, 28, and Julian Ruiz-Acosta, 58, both of Penuelas, Puerto Rico, were charged by an indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday, Aug. 31, with conspiracy and fraudulent transfer of an identification document; Ramos-Correa was further charged with aggravated identity theft and fraudulent possession of five or more identification documents, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger said in the release.

The defendants – all family members – fraudulently obtained birth certificates and U.S. Social Security cards belonging to U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico. They then sold these identification documents for profit to buyers in Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, the indictment said.

If convicted of all charges, Ramos Correa faces a mandatory-minimum term of two years in prison, a maximum statutory sentence of 82 years’ incarceration, a fine of up to $1,500,000, a special assessment of $700, and three years of supervised release; Marta Ruiz-Correa and Julian Ruiz-Acosta each face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years’ incarceration, a fine of up to $500,000, a special assessment of $200, and three years of supervised release, the release said.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Philadelphia Police Department, and PennDOT.