Man Pleads Guilty to Misuse of a Social Security Number

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana:

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CESAR LOPEZ-MATA (LOPEZ-MATA), age 27, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty on May 26, 2022 before U.S. District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe to a one count bill of information charging him with misuse of a Social Security Number, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).

According to court documents, LOPEZ-MATA, a citizen of Guatemala, presented a false Social Security card when attending a pre-employment safety class at the Gulf Coast Safety Council in St. Rose, Louisiana. LOPEZ-MATA falsely represented that a social security number was assigned to him when in fact, the social security number had been assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to an another individual.

LOPEZ-MATA faces a possible sentence of up to five (5) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to one (1) year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is set for August 18, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.