DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that an illegal alien from Mexico with a significant U.S. criminal history was convicted on Oct. 16, for stealing the identity of a deceased U.S. citizen and fraudulently obtaining a U.S. passport.
In October 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Vidal Blanco-Blas, 62, for false statement in application and use of United States Passport and aggravated identity theft. After a three-day trial and approximately two hours of deliberation, a jury convicted him on both counts.
“Exploiting the identity of a deceased American infant to sneak into the U.
S and conceal a decades-long life of crime and fraud is an appalling act that undermines the integrity of our immigration system and erodes trust in our nation’s most vital security documents,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Identity fraud of this magnitude endangers national security, and this office will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to manipulate our systems or compromise the security of the United States.” “Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents are tasked with preserving the sanctity of national security documents like the United States passport,” said Diplomatic Security Service Houston Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Pack. “In support of our mission and authorities delegated by the U.S. Secretary of State, our cadre will continue to tirelessly work to identify and bring forth to prosecution any party attempting to undermine the most trusted identity document in the world.” According to evidence presented at trial, Blanco-Blas entered the U.S. over 40 years ago, using the stolen identity of a deceased United States Citizen, Julio Cesar Torres—an infant who passed away in Mexico at approximately 3 months old. Once in the U.
S, Blanco-Blas utilized the infant’s identity to illegally obtain a Social Security number, State of Texas driver’s license, voter registration card and U.S. passport. Blanco-Blas has significant criminal history in the U.S. He was previously convicted and sentenced to 84 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, 120 months for possession of marijuana, and 21 months for possession with intent to distribute up to 30 kilograms of marijuana under his stolen identity. Witnesses at trial testified that Blanco-Blas held himself out to be Julio Cesar Torres, going so far as to instruct his daughter to sustain the charade that he was her “uncle,” Julio Cesar Torres, when in public. This charade continued until April 11, 2023, when Vidal Blanco-Blas submitted an application to renew his fraudulently obtained United States Passport in Greenville, Texas. Due to advancements in investigative techniques, the United States Department of State learned of the passport fraud and discovered the fraudster’s true identity. Blanco-Blas faces up to 12 years in federal prison. His sentencing date is set for March 22, 2027, before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay. The United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General and the United States Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, National Passport Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luis A. Suarez and Ashley Koos from the Narcotics Section are prosecuting the case.