Mexican Man Indicted On Identity Theft Charges

WICHITA, KAN. – A man from Mexico was indicted today on federal charges of identity theft, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Juan Tapia, 33, a citizen of Mexico, who has been living in Wichita, is charged with one count of using another person’s Social Security number, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally in the United States.

Tapia also is connected to the case involving Andrew J. Pleviak, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, who is charged with impersonating a federal officer. Pleviak allegedly pretended to be an ICE supervisor in September 2019 when he tried to get Tapia out of the Kingman County Jail. Pleviak was indicted Oct. 9 and is awaiting trial.

If convicted, Tapia could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the Social Security charge, a mandatory two years (consecutive) on the identity theft charge, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Kansas Department of Revenue investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Jacob J. Gray, 20, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 1, 2019, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

Cory L. Washington, 35, Wichita, Kan., is charged with four counts of theft by a postal employee. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in April, May, June and July 2019 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.