Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, a fact that fraudsters are well aware of and make the most of. Call it efficiency…or leveraging other strengths to achieve common goals. Thomas Xirum knew he could not succeed in his fraudulent immigration scheme on his own. But if you’re supposed to choose your friends carefully, be even more careful about choosing your partner in fraud. Because no one is left from punishment when the scheme goes bad.
During an investigation into Thomas Xirum, who was the owner of International Guatemala Musical and Fashion Accessories, for selling fraudulent Green Cards and fraudulent Social Security cards, Sandoval Mazariego was identified as the creator of the fraudulent documents Xirum was selling. Proof was in the 568 messages sent by Xirum containing pictures of unknown persons along with a name, date of birth, and country of birth, to which Mazariego used to create Social Security cards and Green Cards containing the person’s photo and information that Xirum provided.
But Mazariego stepped out of his responsibilities as ID creator to try his hand in sales. And on Aug. 17, 2023, Sandoval Mazariego sold a fraudulent Green Card and a fraudulent Social Security card to an undercover agent. A search of his residence afterwards found all items necessary to produce counterfeit forms of identification were found, including two laminators, card stock paper, photo paper, glue, trimmers and printers. Also recovered were nine Legal Permanent Resident cards, six Social Security cards and five driver’s licenses. Five of the recovered Social Security cards contained the names provided by the undercover agent to Sandoval Mazariego as part of the investigation.
Great job by the Department of Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Man sentenced in connection to New Bedford store owner who sold Green Cards, Social Security cards” published by The New Bedford Guide on December 5, 2024.
A Chelsea man was sentenced for selling fraudulent Social Security cards and Legal Permanent Resident cards, often referred to as “Green Cards.” Wilberto Sandoval Mazariego, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to one month in prison, followed by six months of home confinement.
In July 2024, Sandoval Mazariego pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature. In October 2023, Sandoval Mazariego was arrested and charged by criminal complaint and later indicted by a federal grand jury.
