US agents arrest local man with bogus passport

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. – US Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Monday a citizen of the Dominican Republic trying to use a fraudulent US passport to illegally re-enter the island via the San Juan-Santo Domingo ferry.

Francisco Antonio Flores-Alberto arrived at the San Juan Pan American Dock on board the Caribbean Fantasy Ferry from the Dominican Republic, and applied for admission presenting a United States passport bearing his photo and issued under the name “Ernesto Moises Esquilin- Carrasquillo”.

When the passport was scanned the database revealed that it was reported lost. A second query revealed two different persons using the same document.

CBP Enforcement Officers confronted the passenger with the facts, which he later indicated that he had applied for a US passport using a purchased birth certificate, driver’s license and a social security card.

Further review showed that his real name was Francisco Antonio Flores-Alberto, convicted in 2003 for controlled substance violations at the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County, Pennsylvania, serving 3 years and was subsequently removed to the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Flores-Alberto will appear today before a US District Court Magistrate Judge for an initial hearing charged for re-entering after being removed for an aggravated felony conviction.

If convicted shall be fined, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. All defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. CBP Office of Field Operations is committed to securing our borders and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of U.S. laws at the nation’s borders.