Illegal alien sentenced for conspiring to produce false IDs

BOSTON – A previously-deported illegal alien was sentenced Aug. 6, in U.S. District Court in Worcester for conspiracy to produce false identification documents. The sentencing was the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations.

Leonardo Burgos Espinal, 42, most recently residing in Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served of 14 months. In March 2013, Burgos Espinal was charged with bribing an employee of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

From January 2011 through June 2012, Burgos directed his “clients” to present fraudulently obtained, but valid, Puerto Rican identification documents to his co-conspirator at the RMV, who would then issue a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or ID knowing that the Puerto Rican documents belonged to other real people. This sentencing is the most recent development in investigations involving identity theft and public corruption relating to the Massachusetts RMV.

"The fraudulent use of identification documents, both real and counterfeit, may allow the bearer to board an aircraft, improperly obtain a government benefit or allow a criminal to remain in the shadows undetected. These crimes represent a very real threat to our public safety and the security of our nation," said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge for HSI Boston. "Through the combined authorities and expertise of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively target those participating in or facilitating these crimes."

Concurrent with the Massachusetts prosecution, Espinal was also convicted May 15, in the District of Rhode Island for illegal re-entry into the United States after removal.

Espinal was remanded into the custody of ICE for deportation.