Dominican National Convicted of Using U.S. Citizen’s Identity for Decades

Orlando, FL - A federal jury has found Lesbia Cristina Grullon Nolasco (49, Orlando) guilty of passport fraud, theft of government property, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement to a federal agency. Grullon Nolasco faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for passport fraud and theft of government property, up to 5 years for making a false statement to a federal agency, and a mandatory minimum of 2 years' imprisonment, consecutive to any other prison term for aggravated identity theft. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Grullon Nolasco was indicted on December 17, 2025.

According to evidence presented at trial, Grullon Nolasco is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who has lived in the United States for more than 30 years under the stolen identity of a Puerto Rican woman. Grullon Nolasco obtained false identification documents bearing her photo but the identity of the Puerto Rican woman. In 2018, Grullon Nolasco applied and obtained a U.S. passport under the stolen identity. When agents with the U.S. Department of State interviewed Grullon Nolasco in March 2024, she falsely claimed that she was the woman born in Puerto Rico under a different name. Grullon Nolasco provided agents with the victim's birth certificate, that she obtained from Puerto Rico in 2011. She also produced the U.S. passport she obtained in 2018, and a Social Security card, all in the U.S. citizen's name. During the interview, agents asked her questions about Puerto Rico, but Grullon Nolasco was unable to answer any of their questions correctly.

While being investigated by federal agents, Grullon Nolasco continued using false identification documents to obtain benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Between August 2021 and November 2025, Grullon Nolasco used over $10,000 in SNAP benefits. As a result of her fraud, the true person in Puerto Rico was denied SNAP benefits when she applied.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the U.S. Department of State, the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Cruz.