CEDAR RAPIDS – An illegal alien who got a job in Iowa using a fake ID was sentenced today to more than two months in federal prison.
Jose Lopez-Morales, age 36, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Independence, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 25, 2018, guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of identification documents.
At the guilty plea, Lopez-Morales admitted that on November 2, 2017, he used a fraudulent permanent resident card, bearing a fake name, when completing employment forms to obtain a job in Fairbank, Iowa. The social security account number used by Lopez-Morales on the employment forms belonged to a United States citizen and the lawful permanent resident number on the card was not assigned to him. On October 24, 2017, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Lopez-Morales and his minor child in Arizona after they illegally entered the United States. On October 25, 2017, Lopez-Morales was released pending immigration proceedings. On December 5, 2017, Lopez-Morales reported to the immigration office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and initially denied being illegally employed in the United States before admitting he worked under a false name in Fairbank.
Lopez-Morales was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lopez-Morales was sentenced to 76 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Lopez-Morales is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
LOPEZ-MORALES, JOSE:
