NJ Man Sentenced For Passport Fraud in Norwalk

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday the sentencing of a 37-year-old New Jersey man to 18 months in federal prison on passport fraud charges.

Juan Guarderas also received three months of supervised release on the charges, which stemmed from a case in August 2003 in which he allegedly submitted an application at the U.S. Passport Agency in Norwalk that contained a false name, social security number, birth date, parents' names and place of birth, authorities announced.

Guarderas allegedly was residing with the individual who's information he presented to the agency, according to the attorney's office. He was also charged with fraudulently obtaining the New Jersey Driver's License and birth certificate he presented to the agency.

Guarderas signed the passport application, swearing to the veracity of the information he was presenting, authorities said. The fraud was discovered in 2009, when the individual whose information Guarderas initially used attempted to obtain their own U.S. Passport.

Guarderas pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, 2012 to one count of making a false statement on a passport application.