FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 03, 2007
MARIA JULIA VALENZUELA SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on August 3, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, MARIA JULIA VALENZUELA, a 34-year-old resident of Helena, appeared for sentencing. VALENZUELA was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 117 days (time served)
- Supervised Release: 3 years
VALENZUELA was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to misuse of a social security number.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
Records of the Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division, Helena, reflect that in Montana, on or about February 28, 2003, VALENZUELA used a false Social Security number on an application to obtain a State of Montana identification card.
On or about July 31, 2006, VALENZUELA used the fraudulently-obtained State of Montana Identification card and false Social Security number in an Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9) to obtain employment by Arctic Circle restaurant, West Valley City, Utah. She further used the false Social Security number to complete an Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate form (IRS Form W-4) with the same employer.
On or about August 16, 2005, VALENZUELA used a false Social Security number to complete an Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate form (IRS Form W-4) and an Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9) in employment by Moody Creek Produce, Sugar City, Idaho. From this employer, the United States obtained a copy of the false Social Security card bearing number as submitted by VALENZUELA to this employer.
Testimony of an official of the Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division, would prove that due to VALENZUELA'S use of a false Social Security number, and her fraud and deceit, the Montana Department of Justice issued an official identification card to her bearing her photograph.
Records of the Social Security Administration show that the Social Security number used by VALENZUELA to obtain a Montana identification card was not, in fact, issued to her.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that VALENZUELA will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, VALENZUELA does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Horsman prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.
