U.S. Department of State
04/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2026 09:28
Diplomatic Security Service Investigation Exposes Counterfeit Passport Fraud Network, Leads to 10-Year Federal Sentence
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Diplomatic Security Service Investigation Exposes Counterfeit Passport Fraud Network, Leads to 10-Year Federal Sentence
The U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) uncovered a sophisticated, multi-state fraud scheme built on counterfeit U.S. passport cards and stolen identities, resulting in significant federal prison sentences for two central figures.
On April 7, 2026, Ciera Julieth Blas, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Kelly Josek, 41, of New York, New York, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison in January 2026 for the same charges.
The investigation began with a routine traffic stop by the Flower Mound Police Department in Texas, which uncovered seven counterfeit U.S. passport cards. DSS investigators determined that Blas and Josek used the personal identifying information of more than 80 individuals to create counterfeit passport cards and access victim financial accounts nationwide. Victims lost more than $1.3 million, with further analysis connecting Blas to additional fraud totaling more than $8 million and approximately 2,500 victims.
The case demonstrates the critical role DSS plays in protecting the integrity of U.S. travel documents and disrupting criminal networks. Through sustained investigative work, DSS exposed the full scope of this fraud network and brought those responsible to justice.
The investigation was conducted by DSS in coordination with the Flower Mound Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas as part of Operation Take Back America.
To learn more, read the DSS article. For media inquiries, please submit a request here.
U.S. Department of State published this content on April 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 30, 2026 at 15:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]