An illegal alien has been convicted this week for stealing the identity of a deceased American infant, allowing him to live in the United States for more than 40 years.
Vidal Blanco-Blas was charged in 2024 for “false statement in application and use of passport” and “aggravated identity theft,” after the U.S. Department of State uncovered the fraud when Blas attempted to renew his passport.
During the three-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas reported that evidence was presented showing that Blas had entered the U.S. more than 40 years ago using the identity of deceased U.S. citizen Julio Cesar Torres, who passed away at roughly three months of age in Mexico.
By using the infant’s identity, Blas was able to secure a Social Security number, a Texas driver’s license, a voter registration card, and a passport.
Witnesses also testified that Blas “held himself out” as Julio Cesar Torres while in public, even instructing his daughter to call him her “uncle.”
Blas was found guilty by the jury on both charges and faces up to 12 years in federal prison. He will be sentenced in March 2027 by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay.
“Exploiting the identity of a deceased American infant to sneak into the U.S and conceal a decades-long life of crime and fraud is an appalling act that undermines the integrity of our immigration system and erodes trust in our nation’s most vital security documents,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Identity fraud of this magnitude endangers national security, and this office will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to manipulate our systems or compromise the security of the United States.”
The Northern District of Texas also notes that this is not the first criminal offense committed by Blas, as he has a “significant criminal record.”
Blas was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
