Man whose identity remains unknown sentenced for using identity of deceased child for 25 years

A man whose identity remains unknown was sentenced to five years in federal prison for stealing the identity of a deceased child, which he used for 25 years, to obtain government benefits, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. 

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Carlos Ramon Obregon was born in 1963 in Los Angeles but was killed in Los Angeles in 1977 at the age of 14 after suffering from a gunshot wound to the head during a drive-by shooting.

In 2000, the defendant in the case applied for a replacement social security card using Obregon’s social security number, Obregon’s date of birth, and Obregon’s parent’s names, according to court records. At trial, Obregon’s mother testified that her son died in 1977, and the defendant wasn't him. 

In 2012, the defendant allegedly applied for, and obtained, a United States passport using Obregon’s birth certificate, according to court documents. He traveled multiple times on a passport to Mexico. In 2024, he unsuccessfully sought to renew the passport. 

Using the stolen identity, the DOJ alleges that the defendant allegedly obtained numerous government benefits totaling approximately $284,000. 

“Identity thieves who exploit the identities of deceased Americans cause real harm,” said Jonathan P. Kazmar, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) San Francisco Field Office, said in a statement.