United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington
04/15/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Sumner, Washington, man pleads guilty to disclosure of Social Security Number for more than 20 years of living under a false identity
Press Release
Sumner, Washington, man pleads guilty to disclosure of Social Security Number for more than 20 years of living under a false identity
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington
Falsely claimed to be a U.S. Citizen for voting and security clearances
Tacoma - A Sumner, Washington man who lived under a false identity for more than 25 years, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to two counts of illegal disclosure of Social Security Number, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Roberto Adrian Manzano, 53, is scheduled for sentencing in front of U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on July 11, 2024. Manzano was arrested on October 24, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, Manzano began living under a false identity no later than 2000. Using the false identity, Manzano took a job with a logistics company in Western Washington. On July 17, 2020, Manzano used someone else's Social Security Number to apply for a Small Business Administration loan. On January 28, 2021, Manzano used the false identity and another person's Social Security Number to apply for a Security Threat Assessment with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In evaluating his most recent application, TSA Investigations noticed some conflicting information and referred the matter to the Diplomatic Security Service for investigation.
Manzano admitted in his plea agreement that he used the false identity to unlawfully vote in state and national elections since approximately 2004. Manzano admits that he falsely claimed to be a U.S. Citizen each time he voted illegally.
Both the prosecution and defense have agreed to recommend a five-month prison sentence. The court is not bound by the recommendation and Judge Cartwright can impose any sentence authorized by law.
Disclosure of a Social Security Number is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) with assistance from the TSA.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite.
Contact
Press contact for the U.S. Attorney's Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or [email protected].
Updated April 17, 2024
Topics
Identity Theft
Voting and Elections
Component