Couple charged in cross-border identity theft and immigration fraud scheme following ICE investigation

SAN DIEGO - An ICE investigation has led to federal charges against Luis Enrique Villegas Brownell, a Mexican citizen without legal status, and his girlfriend, Kassandra Sanchez, a U.S. citizen, for identity theft and multiple federal crimes. The pair allegedly stole Sanchez's brother's identity to facilitate Villegas's illegal entry into the United States, where he fraudulently obtained a state ID and crossed the border over 50 times using the stolen identity. Villegas also used the identity to commit other crimes, including smuggling an undocumented immigrant and fraudulently obtaining state public benefits, while Sanchez was on supervised release for a prior federal drug smuggling conviction.

"Identity theft and immigration fraud are not just crimes - they are deeply personal violations that can disrupt lives and livelihoods. No one wants their identity stolen and used maliciously, and this case serves as a powerful reminder of the far-reaching consequences these crimes can have on individuals and communities," said Homeland Security Investigations San Diego Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson. "HSI remains committed to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that exploit our borders and violate the law, ensuring those responsible are held accountable and justice is served."

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