A federal grand jury expanded criminal charges against a 41-year-old foreign national accused of operating a counterfeit Social Security card operation in Georgia that used real Americans’ personal information to create fake documents sold for $750 each.

Identity Theft Operation Uncovered

Federal prosecutors added two counts of aggravated identity theft against Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez of Gainesville, who already faced 18 federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia revealed that undercover agents purchased three fraudulent Social Security cards between March and May of this year. Each transaction cost $750, and investigators discovered the cards bore legitimate Social Security numbers belonging to actual American citizens, though the physical cards themselves were counterfeit.

The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General confirmed the numbers printed on the fake cards matched real individuals, exposing innocent Americans to potential financial fraud and legal complications. Alvarez-Rodriguez allegedly provided birth dates corresponding to the stolen identities after completing the initial sales, demonstrating the sophisticated nature of the operation.

Arrest and Weapons Discovery

Federal agents arrested Alvarez-Rodriguez on August 5 when he arrived to sell two additional counterfeit cards. Authorities seized four more fake Social Security cards during the arrest. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered a semi-automatic pistol. Federal law prohibits foreign nationals living unlawfully in the United States from possessing firearms, adding another serious charge to the expanding case against him.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized the severity of the crimes. He stated that Social Security fraud and identity theft strike at the heart of public trust and economic security, noting the alleged conduct jeopardized border integrity while exposing victims to significant financial and legal problems from unauthorized use of their personal information.

Mandatory Prison Time Ahead

The two new aggravated identity theft counts each carry mandatory minimum sentences of two years in prison, separate from potential sentences on the original 18 charges. Those charges included seven counts of Social Security fraud, seven counts of producing false identification documents, three counts of transferring false identification documents, and one count of illegal firearm possession. After a magistrate judge initially denied detention, prosecutors filed an emergency motion citing serious flight risk. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story granted the government’s request, ordering Alvarez-Rodriguez held without bond in U.S. Marshals custody pending trial.