Guatemalan Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Conspiracy to Produce and Transfer Fraudulent Documents

DOJ Press

United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Estuardo Hernando Ruiz-Orozco, 51, of Guatemala, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Conspiracy to Produce and Transfer Fraudulent Documents.  Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Ruiz-Orozco to 24 months’ imprisonment. Prior to sentencing, Ruiz-Orozco had forfeited $17,561.00 as proceeds or property facilitating the fraudulent document scheme. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Ruiz-Orozco will be deported by U.S. immigration authorities after completing his sentence to imprisonment.

In the spring of 2020, law enforcement officers investigating an identity theft matter involving the use of a deceased person’s Social Security number learned that fraudulent identity documents could be obtained from a co-conspirator residing in Fremont, Nebraska.

Over the course of the year, investigators made several purchases of fraudulent documents (Social Security cards, state Driver’s Licenses, and Lawful Permanent Resident cards (I-551s) from the co-conspirator, who was receiving dozens of packages originating in California through the U.S. Mail. Investigators determined that another co-conspirator residing in Pomona, California, was the source of the fraudulent documents mailed to Nebraska. Investigators determined that Ruiz-Orozco, residing in Wakefield, Nebraska, was also selling fraudulent documents obtained from the California supplier.

On October 7, 2020, an undercover officer ordered fraudulent identity documents from Ruiz-Orozco. On October 15, 2020, defendant produced a Driver’s License, an I-551, and a Social Security Card to the undercover officer.


Investigators planned and executed coordinated arrests of the defendants on April 14, 2021. Investigators obtained warrants to search the Nebraska defendants’ residences and cars, yielding dozens of counterfeit federal and state identity cards, blank card stock for use in producing fraudulent documents, and nine notebooks containing customer names and biographical information.


Trial for the remaining defendants is scheduled for June 21, 2022.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.

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