Former Central New York Resident Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud, Misuse of a Social Security Number, and Aggravated Identity Theft
Defendant Submitted a Passport Renewal Application Using Deceased Brother’s Identity
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Timothy John Walsh, age 62, formerly of Dolgeville, New York, pled guilty today to making a false statement on a passport application, misuse of a social security number, and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Keith Byrne, Special Agent in Charge, Diplomatic Security Service’s New York Field Office.
According to the offer of proof filed by the government and admitted to by Walsh during his change of plea today, Walsh mailed a fraudulent passport application to the United States Department of State using his picture but his deceased brother’s name and other personal identifying information, including his brother’s social security number.Â
Sentencing is scheduled for February 21, 2021, before Senior United States District Court Judge Norman A. Mordue. Walsh faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least two years and one day and a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on the false statement charge and five years on the misuse of a social security number charge. He also is subject to a fine of up $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
Department of Justice
Office of the U.S. Attorney
Northern District of New York
Source: Justice.gov