Share/Bookmark

Fake identity suspect indicted

CSDL, Sat, 07/24/2010 - 03:00

By Jarret Bencks jbencks@eagletribune.com
Authorities still don't know the real name and age of a man who allegedly received a false identity through a license fraud scheme at the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles office in Salem. But that isn't stopping prosecutors from moving forward with charges against him.
Identified at the time of his arrest as Juan Cosme-Marcano, 41, of Lawrence, the man was indicted earlier this week under the name "FNU LNU" — or first name unknown, last name unknown — on charges of false representation of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft.
LNU was one of at least 70 people to receive a driver's license under someone else's identity through a fraud ring at the Salem office, prosecutors allege.
Using the birth certificate and Social Security card of Juan Cosme-Marcano, a Puerto Rican man with a long criminal history, LNU received a freshly minted New Hampshire driver's license from Salem DMV worker Donna Rockholt on July 27, 2009, according to a federal affidavit.
The transaction was surveilled by federal investigators, who spent months listening to Rockholt's phone conversations and watching the clerk using a mini video camera hidden at her workstation, according to reports by federal agents.
Adalberto Medina, an auto yard worker from Manchester, allegedly charged foreign citizens thousands of dollars to set them up with New Hampshire driver's licenses with their own photos, but other identities. They were sent to Rockholt, who scanned in paperwork showing they were born in Puerto Rico, even though she knew the records were false, and she overlooked a requirement for photo identification, according to prosecutors.
Medina and Rockholt both await indictment at the state level. Seven people were arrested in May as a result of the investigation.
In February, LNU had a meeting with Special Agent Michael Myers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During the meeting, the man claimed to be Juan Cosme-Marcano, and showed Myers the New Hampshire license with that name and his photo on it, according to an affidavit by Myers.
But the man could not recall his mother's first name or the city in Puerto Rico where he allegedly grew up, Myers wrote.
Prosecutors have previously alleged that many of the people who received licenses through the scheme have lengthy criminal records and are illegal immigrants.
It appeared LNU would work out a plea deal with prosecutors after his attorney and prosecutors filed a joint motion last month to waive speedy trial rights as the sides tried to work out an agreement.
But the mystery man had a change of heart. He notified his court-appointed attorney, James Gleason, on July 14 that he hired a private attorney and would refuse to waive his right to a speedy trial. He was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday.
He is being held at the Strafford County jail in Dover as he awaits trial.
http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x2105965339/Fake-identity-suspect-indicted
  • index
  • index
    •