07-16-04 -- Asencio, Rebecca Rivera et al. -- Guilty Plea -- News Release

Social Security Administration Employee and Two Middlemen Admit to Selling False Social Security Cards

TRENTON - An employee of the U.S. Social Security Administration Office in Trenton and two middlemen pleaded guilty today to Informations charging that they illegally sold genuine social security cards to illegal aliens, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Rebecca Rivera Asencio, 33, of Trenton, Jorge Galeano, 30, of Trenton, New Jersey, and Ronald D. Hoppe, 32, of Hightstown, New Jersey, entered their pleas in U.S. District Court in Trenton before Judge Anne E. Thompson, who scheduled sentencing for October 21, 2004.

The three defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to unlawfully transfer five or more identification documents, namely, social security cards. This charge carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, three years of supervised release upon completion of the prison sentence and a fine of $250,000.

At their plea hearings, both Galeano and Hoppe admitted that in September 2000 they agreed with each other to approach illegal aliens and offer genuine social security cards in exchange for money. Hoppe admitted that he had an inside contact, Elizabeth Rivera, 35 of Camden, who worked as a Customer Service Representative at the Social Security Administration in Trenton, who agreed to process social security applications based upon false identification documents. Once Rivera processed the applications, genuine social security cards were generated and sent to the addresses listed on the applications. Hoppe admitted that he paid Rivera cash in exchange for her processing the applications. Galeano admitted that beginning in September 2002 he agreed to operate the same scheme with Rebecca Rivera Asencio, another employee of the Social Security Administration in Trenton.

Rivera, who was charged in a separate Complaint on Sept. 29, 2003, is charged with conspiring with others to possess with intent to illegally transfer more than five false identification documents. Rivera has pleaded not guilty and the charges are still pending. The Compliant alleges that in December 2002, a cooperating witness, who was an illegal alien, paid another unidentified individual $1,500 for the purpose of getting a genuine social security card. According to the Complaint, in January 2003, Rivera processed, signed and dated a social security application which contained the identifying information of cooperating witness and caused a genuine social security card to be subsequently generated in Maryland and sent to the address of the cooperating witness.

Galeano and Hoppe both admitted that Galeano collected money and biographical information from illegal aliens in the Mercer County area and then gave that information and a portion of the cash to Hoppe, who passed the information onto Rivera and retained a portion of the cash as a fee. Galeano also admitted that on more than 70 occasions between September 2000 and April 2003, he passed biographical information from illegal aliens to Hoppe.

Hoppe admitted that he gave cash to Rivera in exchange for her processing previously completed applications of the illegal aliens. Hoppe admitted that Rivera processed the applications without the required forms of identification and the applicant being present.

At her plea hearing, Asencio stated that she was employed as a development clerk with the Social Security Administration. She admitted that her job responsibilities included processing applications for replacement social security cards, but not original applications.

However, Asencio admitted that in September of 2002, she agreed with Galeano to process illegal aliens' applications that he gave to her in exchange for cash. Furthermore, Asencio admitted that between September 2002 and February 2003, she processed approximately 25 original social security card applications for individuals who, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement records, were neither U.S. citizens nor legal aliens.

The charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted of a crime.

Christie credited Special Agents with IRS Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia J. Haynes, and the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norv McAndrew of the Criminal Division in Trenton.

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Defense Attorneys: James P. Murphy, Princeton, represents Jorge Galeano

John D. Caruso, Esq. Newark, represents Ronald David Hoppe

Hal Haveson, Esq. Princeton, represents Rebecca Rivera Asencio