Man Arrested for Allegedly Using Deceased Person's Identity for Fraudulent Activities

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BOSTON – A man with an unknown true identity was arrested yesterday for allegedly using the stolen identity of a deceased individual to obtain government-issued identification documents, employment, and professional certifications.

John Doe, whose age is unknown, from Quincy, was charged with one count each of false statements in a passport application and aggravated identity theft. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday, Doe was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 29, 2024, at 2 p.m.

According to the charging documents, Doe used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a victim who passed away in 2002 to obtain and use multiple government-issued identification documents in the victim’s name, including Massachusetts driver’s licenses, as well as copies of the victim’s birth certificate and Social Security card.

Using these documents, it is alleged that Doe posed as the victim to apply for employment as a paramedic, obtain an EMT-Basic Certification, attend and graduate from a Firefighting Academy, and secure employment with the Melrose Fire Department.

In March 2023, Doe allegedly applied for a U.S. passport using the victim’s stolen identity. However, a passport application for the victim had already been executed by the victim’s mother in 1989, and thus a passport was not issued to Doe.

During the investigation, facial recognition software allegedly identified a second Massachusetts driver’s license issued to Doe under the name of Truong Nguyen. According to the charging documents, Nguyen entered the United States from Vietnam in 1979 and was ordered deported in 1991 following a second-degree burglary conviction.

Nguyen was never physically deported to Vietnam. In 2010, Nguyen was arrested for embezzlement and larceny for allegedly stealing over $46,000 from the Norwell Firefighters Union while working as an officer for the union.

The charge of false statement in a passport application carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft charge provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutes governing the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

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