Man Conceals True Identity for 27 Years, Facing Federal Charges for Aggravated Identity Theft

Roberto Manzano, a 53-year-old from Sumner, is now facing federal charges, with a primary focus on aggravated identity theft, after maintaining a false identity for 27 years to evade a 1996 warrant for his arrest due to domestic violence and kidnapping. (Photo: gettyimages)

Deceptive Scheme Exposes Shocking Security Gaps in Federal Agencies

According to source, a 53-year-old Sumner man, Roberto Manzano, is facing federal charges for having committed aggravated identity theft by living under a false identity for a staggering 27 years. The charges, as per a Department of Justice media release, falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen, and using counterfeit documents, with the primary focus being on aggravated identity theft.

This elaborate ruse began after a California court issued a warrant for Manzano’s arrest in a 1996 case involving domestic violence and kidnapping, prompting him to turn to this false identity to avoid detection through aggravated identity theft.

One of the most alarming aspects of this case is that Manzano used the fabricated identity to commit aggravated identity theft by securing employment with a logistics company in Seattle. In doing so, he also managed to pass crucial security checks required by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for his job, which played a significant role in the act of aggravated identity theft.

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Sharp-Eyed TSA Agent Sparks Investigation and Uncovers Decades of Identity Fraud

The unraveling of his charade began when a vigilant TSA agent detected discrepancies during an evaluation of Manzano’s security application. This led to the involvement of the Diplomatic Security Service for a thorough investigation delving deeper into the aggravated identity theft.

In a further breach of the law, Manzano was discovered to have used this false identity to commit aggravated identity theft by voting since 2004. If he is convicted on these charges, he could face serious consequences, including a mandatory two-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft.

Additionally he may face up to three years for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen and up to five years for using counterfeit documents with identity theft at the forefront of the legal implications. This case underscores the importance of stringent security measures and vigilant agencies in preventing long-term identity fraud through aggravated identity theft.

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