A Mexican national has been indicted for the illegal use of a social security number to obtain a Louisiana driver's license. The defendant, Jose Guadalupe Munoz-Perez, 46, is facing charges that, if proven, could result in a sentence of up to five years in prison, in addition to fines and supervised release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced.
The indictment, which was filed last Thursday, comes after an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General. Munoz, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty, could also be fined up to $250,000 and may be subject to a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, stressed that "an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," as per U.S. Attorney's Office.
The official press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office details Munoz's alleged crime of illegally using a social security number, a violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B). Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is charged with the prosecution.
