The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) recently made headlines by cracking a case of stolen identity that had remained undetected since 1986. ADOT detectives were instrumental in apprehending Enrique Diaz-Vazquez, who had been using the identity of a deceased child. This case came to light when ADOT's Office of Inspector General was approached by the Social Security Administration in June of the previous year to aid in the investigation, as reported by ADOT News.
Upon making contact at the residence listed under the stolen identity, it was using current Motor Vehicle Division and passport photos in conjunction with facial-recognition technology that the detectives identified the subject as Diaz-Vasquez. The arrest of Diaz-Vasquez was executed seamlessly on March 7 while he was in the process of picking up a newly requested passport in Tucson, in cooperation with the Social Security Administration personnel. After the arrest, Diaz-Vasquez admitted to taking on the deceased baby's identity after finding its grave in a cemetery, a narrative that indeed sounds straight out of a detective thriller.
Diaz-Vasquez now awaits trial in a federal holding facility in Florence, facing multiple charges, including passport fraud and misconduct involving weapons. He also faces additional state charges for identity theft and forgery. "ADOT is very pleased to have assisted the SSA in successfully bringing this suspect to justice," said Lt. Jason Henderson with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, as per a report by the ADOT News.
It is through the ADOT Fraud Hotline that residents are encouraged to report suspected fraudulent activity against documents such as a driver's license or ID card, as well as vehicle registration or title. In a show of commitment to maintaining the integrity of identification processes, the hotline is available 24 hours a day for individuals to report fraud or criminal activity. In running a range of illegal activity investigations, including those involving vehicle dealerships and title and registration, the diligent work by ADOT's Office of Inspector General plays a vital part, as well as assisting other law enforcement agencies.
For those who may suspect fraudulent activity, ADOT's 24-hour Fraud Hotline can be reached at 877.712.2370. Reports can also be submitted via email to [email protected] or through the online portal at azdot.gov/incident-report.
