A multi-state fraud network, involving counterfeit U.S. passport cards and stolen identities, has been taken down. Two main operators have been sentenced to federal prison following an extensive investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Ciera Julieth Blas, 32, from Brooklyn, New York, received a 120-month prison term for fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Kelly Josek, 41, from New York, New York, was sentenced to 90 months earlier this year on similar charges.
The case originated from a routine traffic stop in Texas where officers discovered seven counterfeit U.S. passport cards in a vehicle driven by Blas, with Josek as a passenger. This finding led to a broader federal inquiry revealing a coordinated scheme that utilized stolen personal information to create counterfeit passport cards and access victims’ financial accounts nationwide. Ryan Pack, Special Agent in Charge of the DSS Houston Field Office, emphasized the significant penalty imposed on Blas, highlighting the agency’s relentless investigative efforts.
Blas and Josek exploited the identities of over 80 individuals and passport-style images of 12 people to forge fraudulent documents. These documents were then used to assume victims’ identities and carry out financial theft through various means such as withdrawals and wire transfers. Victims suffered losses exceeding $1.3 million, with additional fraud schemes amounting to over $8 million and impacting approximately 2,500 individuals, underscoring the extensive nature of the operation.
