86-year-old man convicted of multiple charges for assuming deceased brother’s identity in 1965.
An 86-Year-Old Man Convicted of Identity Theft and Fraud
In a fascinating case that spans decades, an 86-year-old man named Napoleon Gonzalez has been found guilty of assuming his deceased brother’s identity and using it to exploit Social Security benefits. This remarkable story came to light when facial recognition technology detected that the same face was linked to two different identities.
Gonzalez, hailing from Etna, had taken on his brother’s identity back in 1965, a staggering 25 years after his brother’s untimely demise as an infant. With this stolen identity, he managed to secure Social Security benefits under both names, acquire multiple passports, and obtain state identification cards. However, his fraudulent activities did not go unnoticed.
After a thorough investigation, a U.S. District Court jury in Bangor delivered a verdict on Friday, finding Gonzalez guilty of mail fraud, Social Security fraud, passport fraud, and identity theft. Among these charges, mail fraud carries the most severe potential sentence, up to 20 years behind bars.
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Despite the conviction, Gonzalez’s attorney has announced plans to appeal the decision and will seek to keep his client out of prison until the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issues a ruling.
Interestingly, Gonzalez’s benefits had previously undergone scrutiny by the Social Security Administration in 2010, but no fraud was found, and his benefits were upheld. However, a new investigation was launched in 2020 when facial recognition software detected Gonzalez’s face on two different state identification cards.
The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles employs facial recognition technology to prevent individuals from obtaining multiple credentials or using someone else’s identity. Emily Cook, spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office, explained that when fraudulent activity is detected, it is thoroughly investigated and referred for administrative and/or criminal proceedings.
When confronted, Gonzalez claimed that he had assumed his brother’s identity under the direction of the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations during an undercover operation in the 1960s. However, court documents revealed that he later confessed to faking his own death under his original identity and continuing to live under his brother’s stolen identity.
A sentencing date has yet to be determined for Gonzalez, who remains free for now. His attorney, Harris Mattson, expressed doubts about the government’s ability to prove all the charges against his client and questioned the wisdom of imposing a lengthy prison sentence on an elderly individual.
As this intriguing case unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the power of technology in uncovering long-standing fraud and the complexities of identity theft.
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