Buckeye Reporter

A Mexican national living in Pandora, Ohio, has been sentenced for misusing a social security number that belonged to an inmate at a Texas prison. Julio Juarez Garcia, 32, received a sentence of time served from U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after pleading guilty in July to misuse of a social security number under Title 42 United States Code 408(a)(7)(B).

Court records and testimony revealed that on February 28, Garcia tried to file taxes for the 2023 tax year with the fiscal officer for the Village of Pandora. He completed tax forms and presented a W-2 form from his employer, where he had worked since 2020. Law enforcement later determined Garcia had provided false information.

The investigation found that Garcia used a social security number assigned to an inmate currently serving time at the Three Rivers Federal Correctional Institution in Live Oak, Texas. Garcia admitted to investigators that the number was not his and acknowledged being in the country illegally as a citizen of Mexico. He remains in federal custody pending removal proceedings.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Border Patrol, and the Village of Pandora Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Phillips prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

"Julio Juarez Garcia, 32, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after he pleaded guilty in July to misuse of a social security number in violation of Title 42 United States Code 408(a)(7)(B)."

"According to court documents and testimony before Judge Zouhary, on Feb. 28, the defendant attempted to file taxes for the 2023 tax year with a fiscal officer for the Village of Pandora. He filled out tax forms and presented a W-2 document issued by his employer, where he had been employed since 2020. Law enforcement subsequently discovered that Garcia had submitted false information. During the investigation, it was learned that the defendant was using a social security number that was not his, but rather, it was a number assigned to an inmate who is serving a prison sentence at the Three Rivers Federal Correctional Institution in Live Oak, Texas. Garcia later admitted to investigators that the social security number was not his and that he was in the country illegally and was a citizen of Mexico. He is currently being held in federal custody pending removal from the United States."

"The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Border Patrol, and the Village of Pandora Police Department."

"This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio."