A man who used a stolen identity for decades, acquiring a passport, driver’s license, and unemployment benefits doing so, pleaded guilty last week to charges of fraud, according to federal prosecutors.
The man, who was charged under the pseudonym “John Doe,” also confessed his real name is Jose Then, acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy’s office said in a statement. Then pleaded guilty to mail fraud, false statement in an application for a passport, misuse of a social security number and aggravated identity theft. He is set to be sentenced on those charges in July.
Then acquired the name and identity of an individual and subsequently used their name, date of birth, and social security number for decades, obtaining a passport, a Massachusetts driver’s license, and thousands in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, according to the statement.
The victim had his wages seized to pay off child support costs that Then was failing to pay using the stolen identity, Levy’s office said.
Then faces a sentence of up to 37 years in prison, according to Levy’s office.
