Prolific Document Counterfeiter from Montgomery County Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Danial Gomez-Velazquillo, 34, of Norristown, PA, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release by United States District Judge R. Barclay Surrick for producing unlawful and counterfeit federal documents, including Social Security Administration and Alien Registration cards.

In March 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of unlawful production of identification documents, six counts of sale of Social Security cards (which utilized the social security numbers of five living victims and one deceased victim), and five counts of sale of alien registration cards. According to court documents, Gomez-Velazquillo was a mass producer of high-quality counterfeit documents, including social security cards and alien registration documents, so much so that he earned the nickname, “Photo Guy.” Evidence gathered in the investigation of the case indicated that the defendant produced over 7,000 separate identification documents.

“When we prosecute a fraudster for stealing personal identification information, we recognize that each nine-digit social security number is an American citizen,” said Acting U.S. Williams. “Social security cards and other identification documents have become critical in modern society to confirm individuals’ identities for a wide range of purposes, and those who commit these offenses can cause lifelong harm to the victims.  We will continue to prioritize aggressive prosecution of these cases.”

“Homeland Security Investigations has been at the forefront of investigating fraud schemes,” said Brian A. Michael, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia. “Together with our law enforcement partners we remain steadfast in our pursuit to safeguard the public and hold accountable fraudsters like the defendant, who profit from the production of unlawful and counterfeit federal documents.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration- Office of the Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran.