Now isn't that something. Talk about somebody not doing a back ground & finger print checks. If the person's identity was stolen wouldn't that mean IRS would have two W2s?
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – For years, the man known as Rafael Espinoza was widely respected as an exemplary police officer who was popular among his peers in Alaska's largest city.
All that ended this week when authorities discovered he was really Mexican national Rafael Mora-Lopez, who was in the U.S. illegally and stole another man's identity, officials charged.
"His reputation here is one of a hard-working officer, one who was very professional," Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew said Friday at a news conference announcing Mora-Lopez's arrest. "The problem, obviously, is he is not Rafael Espinoza."
Soon after the announcement, Mora-Lopez appeared in U.S. District Court in Anchorage and pleaded not guilty to a charge of passport fraud, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence. At his arraignment, Mora-Lopez told a federal magistrate he is 47, even though officials listed his age as 51.
His attorney, Alan Dayan, declined to comment to The Associated Press.
Federal agents processing a renewal request for his passport discovered the alleged fraud. He was arrested Thursday after authorities searched his home and found documents confirming his true identity, officials said.
Mora-Lopez had been employed as an Anchorage police officer since 2005 under the assumed name. Police and federal prosecutors said he doesn't have a criminal record.
"We have no evidence that this individual had at the time been anything other than a good police officer," Karen Loeffler, U.S. Attorney in Alaska said.
The real Rafael Espinoza is a U.S. citizen who lives outside Alaska.
Officials said it's too soon to gauge implications of the case, such as any fallout over Mora-Lopez's court testimony in past criminal trials. Authorities released limited details, saying the case was still unfolding.
Mew said the department conducted a pre-employment criminal background check on Mora-Lopez and he also passed a polygraph test. A national fingerprint check also turned up empty.
The arrest was a "bitter pill to swallow" for many in the police department, Mew said.
There are no immediate plans to file state charges, said John Skidmore, a state attorney. He and other officials stressed that the case was still under investigation.
"At this time, we have no reason to believe, from what we know so far, that this gentleman or this officer's good work for APD has in any way been compromised or questioned," Skidmore said.
U.S. Magistrate John D. Roberts set bond at $50,000, and ordered Mora-Lopez to home-confinement and electronic monitoring. His defense attorney told the magistrate that Mora-Lopez has a wife and child in Alaska and has close ties to Anchorage, where he has lived since the late 1980s.
"He's not going anywhere," Dayan said.
The wife could not be reached by phone for comment Friday.
The passport fraud case is similar to one involving a Mexican national who took the identity of a dead cousin who was a U.S. citizen in order to become a Milwaukee police officer. Oscar Ayala-Cornejo was deported to Mexico in 2007. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/...al_immigrant_officer
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11:19 PM
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Apr 24th, 2011
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
They should over turn every one of his cases and refund/release every case he ever worked on. Alaska should be held accountable for this. They have been employing an illegal alien (Not an Immigrant) and as you know that is against the law. I think the Feds should also go after Alaska and make an example out of them. Heck if nothing else it will generate revenue. An example should to be made.
Now about Rafael Mora-Lopez I'm pretty sure after Alaska has its collective ass handed to it they will be more than willing to get their pound of flesh from Rafael Mora-Lopez.
This is one of the top crimes you can do. Not only did he steal someone else's identity he stole the public trust. The same trust that he swore to uphold. He should be put in jail next to those that he would pass judgment on.
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07:07 AM
Rallaster Member
Posts: 9105 From: Indy southside, IN Registered: Jul 2009
I understand that many people have a huge racial prejudice against illegal immigrants of Latin decent. There are quite a few Canadians in the United States living and working illegally, but since they are "white", people don't care about them.
Ok. So you had an Illegal Immigrant that was busted for identity fraud. The dude will go to jail or be deported.
But Identity fraud and theft happens to millions of people for which most are not because of illegal immigrants trying to earn a living and feeding their families and escaping the brutally violent and corrupt country they are fleeing from.
No. Most identity fraud happens to be white collar criminals who happen to be Anglo Saxon.
There are true intention criminals and there are people who happen to be criminals due to the actions they took in order to provide a meal to a starving family.
I understand that many people have a huge racial prejudice against illegal immigrants of Latin decent. There are quite a few Canadians in the United States living and working illegally, but since they are "white", people don't care about them.
Ok. So you had an Illegal Immigrant that was busted for identity fraud. The dude will go to jail or be deported.
But Identity fraud and theft happens to millions of people for which most are not because of illegal immigrants trying to earn a living and feeding their families and escaping the brutally violent and corrupt country they are fleeing from.
No. Most identity fraud happens to be white collar criminals who happen to be Anglo Saxon.
There are true intention criminals and there are people who happen to be criminals due to the actions they took in order to provide a meal to a starving family.
He broke the law. If he was from Canada it would still be the same law.
There are true intention criminals and there are people who happen to be criminals due to the actions they took in order to provide a meal to a starving family.
I'm sorry but "good Intent" does not negate that they committed fraud and are a criminal. "Intent" can be considered at time of sentencing, but they still committed a crime and should be tried, convicted and held accountable like any other criminal.
EDIT: and yes, i would do it too if i had no other way to feed/clothe my family and was turned away from any 'help' out there ( like churches, or a food pantry ). But i would fully expect to be caught and pay for my transgressions as i broke the law.
[This message has been edited by Nurb432 (edited 04-24-2011).]
Now isn't that something. Talk about somebody not doing a back ground & finger print checks. If the person's identity was stolen wouldn't that mean IRS would have two W2s?
Sure they would, but have you ever worked 2 jobs before? You get a W2 from each. I don't think working 2 ( or 3 ) jobs is an automatic red flag for the IRS. 5 or 6 might be...
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10:00 AM
Scottzilla79 Member
Posts: 2573 From: Chicago, IL Registered: Oct 2009
He was just dong a job Americans don't want to do. About the whole, "you're racist" issue. BS I don't want a Canadian pretending to be a cop either. Get real. There's plenty of Polish illegals around where I live and I don't want them here either.
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10:17 AM
spud321x Member
Posts: 974 From: Jackson, Michigan Registered: Oct 2004
It was sarchasm. If it's political racism to question the citizenship of our President, then it's political racism to question Espinoza as well.
Blah, i have been bit by that at least 3 times today.. We really need that 'sarcasm delimiter' so the post turns pink or something for slow people like me.
Throw his illegal ass in jail, confiscate all his wealth acquired from this fraud. Then send him down to sherrif Joe.
i totally agree, but the bigger problem is what do you do with his 'history'.. people were arrested ( and I'm sure some jailed or at least fined ) by a criminal who had no legal authority to do it.. That is harder to deal with then just getting him off the scene.
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01:14 PM
Scottzilla79 Member
Posts: 2573 From: Chicago, IL Registered: Oct 2009
Blah, i have been bit by that at least 3 times today.. We really need that 'sarcasm delimiter' so the post turns pink or something for slow people like me.
On another forum I use they always use teal for sarcasm.
i totally agree, but the bigger problem is what do you do with his 'history'.. people were arrested ( and I'm sure some jailed or at least fined ) by a criminal who had no legal authority to do it.. That is harder to deal with then just getting him off the scene.
Yup, that is some tough luck. Maybe they will do a background check next time.
Sure they would, but have you ever worked 2 jobs before? You get a W2 from each. I don't think working 2 ( or 3 ) jobs is an automatic red flag for the IRS. 5 or 6 might be...
Two or more W2's is not a red flag to the IRS. Two W2's from completely different states IS. I live in New Jersey, If I get (and I have) simulatneous W2's from employers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, nobody cares. If I get simultaneous W2's from New Jersey and Alaska, a flag SHOULD go up. Particularly if it goes on for years. Yes, you can all concieve of situations where that's perfectly legal. But highly unlikely. My point is that the IRS is suspicious of these things, knows something's wrong, and does not investigate.
I understand that many people have a huge racial prejudice against illegal immigrants of Latin decent. There are quite a few Canadians in the United States living and working illegally, but since they are "white", people don't care about them.
Ok. So you had an Illegal Immigrant that was busted for identity fraud. The dude will go to jail or be deported.
But Identity fraud and theft happens to millions of people for which most are not because of illegal immigrants trying to earn a living and feeding their families and escaping the brutally violent and corrupt country they are fleeing from.
No. Most identity fraud happens to be white collar criminals who happen to be Anglo Saxon.
There are true intention criminals and there are people who happen to be criminals due to the actions they took in order to provide a meal to a starving family.
Why did you bring racism into this? Not sure what it has to do with anything
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01:52 AM
ghost187x Member
Posts: 1026 From: El Paso, TX Registered: Oct 2008
"We have no evidence that this individual had at the time been anything other than a good police officer," Karen Loeffler, U.S. Attorney in Alaska said.
Wow! That’s a stretch. That's like placing the carriage in front of the horse. Alaska has a corrupt cop on the force who knowing, willingly, and continued to committing identity crimes since 1995.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 04-25-2011).]
He will probably get put back to work after getting a fast track to citizenship
Hopefully not. Illegal is illegal. I didn't see anything that indicated his police training and certification, so I assume he used his stolen ID to get through police academy. If that's the case I think he should spend a few years behind bars for impersonating a police officer before they deport him. That's what I don't get, the line starts at the border and line jumpers should be sent to the end of the line.
Note: Sarcasm purple wasn't lost on me at all, though it obviously gives some people a woody to think I'm stupid and ignorant. All I have to say is, spank away, just don't get any on me...
[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 04-26-2011).]
Hopefully not. Illegal is illegal. I didn't see anything that indicated his police training and certification, so I assume he used his stolen ID to get through police academy. If that's the case I think he should spend a few years behind bars for impersonating a police officer before they deport him. That's what I don't get, the line starts at the border and line jumpers should be sent to the end of the line.
