SAN JUAN: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Juan Office of Field Operations officers arrested Sunday a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was found attempting to travel through the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport using a fraudulent New York driver’s license.
Victor Manuel Arias-Soto, 40, will appear before US Magistrate Judge Camille Velez-Rive to face charges for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546(a), fraudulent use of visas and other documents.CBP Officers remain vigilant on use of fraudulent documents
“CBP officers strive to detect and apprehend persons who try to use fraudulent documents to elude detection and break our laws,” stated Marcelino Borges, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Before boarding a flight to the John F. Kennedy International Airport, Mr. Arias-Soto claimed to be Rafael Jose Moreno-Rodriguez, a United States Citizen, presenting CBP Officers a New York driver’s license containing his photo.
The passenger was escorted to secondary inspection, where he also presented a Puerto Rico Birth Certificate and Social Security Card under the name of Rafael Jose Moreno-Rodriguez. A biometric database revealed various immigration records. Mr. Arias-Soto admitted his true identity.
CBP field operations officers presented the case to the duty Assistant US Attorney who accepted the case for prosecution.
If convicted, Mr. Arias-Soto could be fined, imprisoned not more than 10 years or both.
All defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
