GREENBELT, Md. – A federal grand jury has indicted 73-year-old Jorge Echeverri from Port Tobacco, Maryland, on charges including theft of government property, passport fraud, false statements, Social Security misuse, and false citizenship claims.
The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, involves several law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security (DSS), and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG).
Echeverri, originally from Colombia, unlawfully entered the U.S. in 1972 and was deported three times. However, between 1985 and 1987, he re-entered the U.S. using a fraudulent birth certificate from Puerto Rico. Under the alias “Pedro Torres Rivera,” Echeverri applied for and began receiving Social Security retirement benefits from May 2010 through January 2025. He also applied for and obtained a U.S. passport, voted in both the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, and misused a Social Security number.
If convicted, Echeverri faces up to 10 years for passport fraud and 10 years for theft of government property. However, federal sentences are often less than the maximum penalties. A U.S. district court judge will determine sentencing after evaluating U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. It’s important to note that an indictment is not a determination of guilt, and individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the coordinated efforts of HSI’s Document Benefit Fraud/El Dorado Task Force, DSS, and SSA-OIG. She also acknowledged Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon for her work prosecuting the case.
