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Date: 03-14-2023
Case Style:
United States of America v. Elizabeth Ann Berbel
Case Number: 5:23-cr-00255
Judge: Christopher Dos Santos
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Webb County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Laredo
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Laredo, Texas criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with identity theft.
Elizabeth Ann Berbel who turned herself in to authorities yesterday, is also known as Ana Elizabeth Gomez-Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez, Anna Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Anna Elizabeth Gomez, Elizabeth Berbel, Elizabeth Ann Gomez, Tina Gomez-Manns and Anna Gomez.
A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment March 7. The charges include one count of passport fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft linked to the passport fraud as well as four counts of lying to a federal agency and three counts of misusing a Social Security number.
On March 22, 2019, Berbel applied for a U.S. passport, claiming the identity of another individual, according to the charges. As part of that process, she allegedly provided false information to include she was born in Chicago when she was not. The indictment further alleges she gave fraudulent information about her parents and provided a Social Security number that did not belong to her as part of the application process.
Along with the allegedly fraudulent passport application, the charges also allege that on two separate occasions, she had applied for a Texas driver’s license. In each instance, Berbel allegedly used the same victim’s Social Security number.
If convicted, Berbel faces up to 10 years for the passport fraud in addition to five years each for lying to authorities and for misusing a Social Security number. She will also receive a mandatory two years for the identity theft, upon conviction, which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
The Department of State conducted the investigation with assistance from the Social Security Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.
Passport Fraud. PENALTY: Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or $250,000 fine, $100 special assessment, up to a three-year term of supervised release.
(1)
Aggravated Identity Theft. PENALTY: Mandatory two-year term of imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, $100 special assessment, up to a one-year term of supervised release
(2)
False Statement to Federal Agency or Agent. PENALTY: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $250,000 fine, $100 special assessment, up to a three-year term of supervised release
(3-6)
Misuse of a Social Security Number. PENALTY: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $250,000 fine, $100 special assessment, up to a three-year term of supervised release
(7-9)
Outcome: An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: