Man Pleads Guilty To Misuse of Social Security Number

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ALVARO JOSE MEZA-GONZALEZ, (MEZA-GONZALEZ), age 39, pled guilty on October 17, 2019     before United States District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier,  to a one-count bill of information charging him with misuse of a Social Security Number, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).

According to court documents, MEZA-GONZALEZ, a citizen of Nicaragua, presented a false Social Security card when attending a pre-employment safety class at the Gulf Coast Safety Council in St. Rose, Louisiana. MEZA-GONZALEZ falsely represented that a social security number was assigned to him when in fact, the social security number had been assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to another individual.

MEZA-GONZALEZ faces a possible sentence up to five (5) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and one (1) year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  United States District Court Judge Barbier set sentencing for January 23, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Peter G.  Strasser praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Border Patrol and the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.