NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencing of YEFFERSON DAVID PEREZ (“PEREZ”), age 19, a citizen of Honduras, who pled guilty on October 8, 2024 to possession of a fraudulent immigration document, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546(a). United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry sentenced PEREZ to time served, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, a United States Border Patrol agent received information that a specific vehicle was in the area of Interstate 10 near Slidell, Louisiana whose owner was in the United States illegally. During a traffic stop of the vehicle, the agent encountered PEREZ as a passenger. During questioning, PEREZ was unable to produce identification but instead, handed the agent what appeared to be a Lawful Permanent Resident card. A forensic document examiner determined that the card was fraudulent and that PEREZ carried the fraudulent card to imply that he was authorized to be present in the United States and to obtain employment.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Border Patrol, the mobile, uniformed law enforcement arm of United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
