SAN JOSE, Calif. — In the largest investigation of its kind, federal authorities Tuesday announced the arrests of more than 100 people who are suspected of fraudulently applying for and obtaining U.S. passports using birth certificates of dead Americans.
Between July 2005 and August 2008, 112 individuals were charged with federal passport fraud and related offenses, according to the U.S. State Department. Those individuals include fugitives, military deserters, delinquent taxpayers, parolees, convicted felons, habitual drunken drivers and illegal immigrants from more than 20 countries, all of whom wanted passports to hide from law enforcement, according to authorities.
Security service officials said investigators merged California’s death record database, going back to 1940, with passport requests.
While it’s possible for terrorists to steal and use other people’s identities, officials said there were no defendants charged with terrorism as part of this investigation.
Federal passport offenses carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
