A New York man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Vermont on charges of aggravated identity theft and use of a false passport, according to a statement issued by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont.
Chad Maurer, 34, entered a plea of not guilty during an arraignment held Thursday before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. The charges stem from an investigation that led to his arrest in the Scranton, Pennsylvania-area on April 11. He was later detained at a hearing on April 17 in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The federal indictment was returned on March 13. Prosecutors allege that Maurer used fraudulent identity documents, including a counterfeit passport. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft and up to ten years for the passport offense. Sentencing, if applicable, would be guided by federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
“The charges in the indictment are only allegations,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted in a public release, emphasizing that Maurer is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Maurer remains in federal custody pending further proceedings in the District of Vermont.
Federal investigation led by DSS and U.S. Marshals
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher acknowledged the role of federal law enforcement agencies in the case. “The Diplomatic Security Service and the United States Marshals Service played key roles in the investigation,” Drescher stated.
According to officials, the Diplomatic Security Service frequently handles cases involving passport fraud, working in tandem with other agencies to enforce federal identity protection laws. Maurer’s case represents a continuation of efforts to prosecute crimes involving misuse of U.S. travel documents and stolen identities.
Authorities have not released additional information about the nature of the identity documents involved or how Maurer allegedly obtained or used them. The investigation remains ongoing, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has declined further comment on specifics.
Maurer’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. All proceedings will be conducted in federal court in Burlington, Vermont, where the indictment was filed.
If convicted, Maurer could face significant prison time, though the ultimate sentence would depend on the facts presented at trial and judicial discretion under federal sentencing standards.
