A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Marlborough, Massachusetts, was charged on June 1 with allegedly using a fraudulent passport to open and access business bank accounts.
Jose De Freitas Junior, 30, faces one count of false use of a passport. He is currently in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to charging documents, De Freitas used a false name and presented a fraudulent Brazilian passport containing his photograph but bearing the name and number of another Brazilian citizen to access a business account at a bank in Andover. He also allegedly showed the same document to local law enforcement when they arrived at the bank. Authorities took De Freitas into custody immediately after this encounter.
Further investigation included biometric checks that confirmed De Freitas’ identity as a citizen of Brazil who has not been lawfully admitted into the United States. Investigators allege that he opened multiple business accounts using several different fraudulent Brazilian passports as identification. The accounts were registered as auto sales-related businesses and received numerous large wire transfers, some of which were later recalled for fraud by sending banks.
The charge carries potential penalties including up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and up to $250,000 in fines. Sentences are determined by federal district court judges based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges along with Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations New England; assistance was provided by Andover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh is prosecuting the case for the Major Crimes Unit.
“The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.”
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts enforces federal laws through prosecutions including national security threats and civil rights violations; it serves all residents across Massachusetts from its main office at John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse in Boston as well as branch offices in Springfield and Worcester; employs over 200 attorneys, paralegals, and professional staff; advances community initiatives on civil rights and violence prevention; operates as part of the United States Department of Justice, according to the official website.
