Federal Jury Convicts Honduran Man for Possession of a Fraudulent Green Card

Federal Jury Convicts Honduran Man for Possession of a Fraudulent Green Card

CONCORD - After a trial, a Honduran national was convicted by a federal jury for the unlawful possession of a fraudulent green card yesterday, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.

Hector Ariel Ortiz-Guillen was convicted of knowingly possessing a fraudulent or forged Permanent Resident card, more commonly called a green card. U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2026. Ortiz-Guillen has been detained since December 5, 2025.

"It is a privilege to live and work in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Creegan. "We expect all persons who come to the United States to follow the rules and laws for entry. This verdict shows we will continue to protect the integrity of our immigration system."

The evidence introduced at trial showed that on December 5, 2025, Border Patrol investigated a tip that there was a work crew of three illegal aliens in Colebrook, New Hampshire. Border Patrol saw them enter a truck and tried stopping the vehicle. The truck sped off, and after a chase, the truck crashed into a snowbank. Ortiz-Guillen then fled on foot. After a pursuit, Border Patrol and other law enforcement personnel detained Ortiz-Guillen and searched him. Border Patrol found a wallet on him which contained a fraudulent green card which showed Ortiz-Guillen's name and face, but an alien number belonging to a Canadian citizen.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and up to 3 years of supervised release. After serving his sentence, Ortiz-Guillen is subject to removal from the United States. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Border Patrol led the investigation and was assisted on December 5 by personnel from the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game, the Colebrook Police Department, and the Coos County Sheriff's Office. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and Alexander S. Chen are prosecuting the case.