A Mexican national living illegally in Houston admitted on Apr. 14 to stealing government funds and committing aggravated identity theft, according to Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
The case centers on Ana Silvia Garcia, age 62, who used a stolen Social Security number belonging to a U.S. citizen since 1992. Using this false identity, Garcia filed immigration petitions for family members and obtained disability and Medicare benefits over several years.
Authorities said Garcia unlawfully received more than $278,000 in federal benefits from 2013 through February 2026 by using the stolen identity. She confessed her true identity after being arrested in February.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge is scheduled to sentence Garcia on July 2. She faces up to ten years in federal prison for theft of government funds and an additional mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Garcia remains in custody until sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, with help from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman is prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice recently created the National Fraud Enforcement Division as part of its efforts against fraud targeting taxpayer dollars, supporting President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance.
The Justice Department serves as the principal federal agency for law enforcement according to its official website. It includes more than 115,000 employees operating across the United States and internationally as noted on its official website. The department maintains operations throughout the United States and in over fifty countries according to its official website.
Garland assumed leadership as Attorney General following his swearing-in on March 11, 2021 according to the official website, overseeing key prosecutions including those related to major cases such as the Oklahoma City bombing as per its official site. The department focuses on upholding rule of law, ensuring national safety, and safeguarding civil rights as detailed online.
