Woman pleads guilty in 'total identity theft' case
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An illegal immigrant accused of assuming the persona of a Texas teacher pleaded guilty Monday in a case that put a face on the growing crime of "total identity theft" in the United States.
Benita Cardona-Gonzalez, a Mexican national living in Topeka, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of possessing fraudulent identification documents in a deal with prosecutors that calls for an 18-month prison term.
The 32-year-old was accused of completely assuming the persona of Houston elementary school teacher Candida Gutierrez, who first went public in a story by The Associated Press. Gutierrez recounted how the thief not only opened bank and credit accounts, but assumed her entire persona — using it to get a job, a driver's license, a mortgage, food stamps and even medical care for the birth of two children. All the while, the crook claimed the real Gutierrez was the one who had stolen her identity.
As part of the plea deal, Cardona-Gonzalez agreed not to contest deportation after serving her sentence.
Defense lawyer Matthew Works said after Monday's hearing in Wichita that his client was sorry and didn't intend to harm Gutierrez.
"She wanted to give her children a better life. That is what this is all about," Works said.
Gutierrez said in a phone interview Monday that she plans to attend the sentencing, which is scheduled for March 25.
"I want to see her face to face. I want to see it actually happening," Gutierrez said. "After all this time, I am still haunted. I want to be sure she is put away."
Gutierrez said she would have liked to see Cardona-Gonzalez spend a more than 18 months in prison after everything she put her through. Still, she said she was satisfied with the plea deal because she and her husband want to get the case over with and move on with their lives.
She praised the U.S. attorney's office in Kansas and said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson even came to Houston to talk to her about the deal. He returned her original Social Security card and birth certificate, she said.
"They were pretty amazing getting on it once we contacted them," Gutierrez said. "Brent was informative and helpful. He was very efficient."
Gutierrez first learned her identity had been hijacked when she was turned down for a mortgage nearly 12 years ago. Both women claimed they were identity theft victims and sought new Social Security numbers. The Social Security Administration turned down the request from Gutierrez, instead issuing a new number to the woman impersonating her. In another twist, Gutierrez was forced to file her federal income tax forms using a special identification number usually reserved for illegal immigrants.
Benita Cardona-Gonzalez, a Mexican national living in Topeka, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of possessing fraudulent identification documents in a deal with prosecutors that calls for an 18-month prison term.
The 32-year-old was accused of completely assuming the persona of Houston elementary school teacher Candida Gutierrez, who first went public in a story by The Associated Press. Gutierrez recounted how the thief not only opened bank and credit accounts, but assumed her entire persona — using it to get a job, a driver's license, a mortgage, food stamps and even medical care for the birth of two children. All the while, the crook claimed the real Gutierrez was the one who had stolen her identity.
As part of the plea deal, Cardona-Gonzalez agreed not to contest deportation after serving her sentence.
Defense lawyer Matthew Works said after Monday's hearing in Wichita that his client was sorry and didn't intend to harm Gutierrez.
"She wanted to give her children a better life. That is what this is all about," Works said.
Gutierrez said in a phone interview Monday that she plans to attend the sentencing, which is scheduled for March 25.
"I want to see her face to face. I want to see it actually happening," Gutierrez said. "After all this time, I am still haunted. I want to be sure she is put away."
Gutierrez said she would have liked to see Cardona-Gonzalez spend a more than 18 months in prison after everything she put her through. Still, she said she was satisfied with the plea deal because she and her husband want to get the case over with and move on with their lives.
She praised the U.S. attorney's office in Kansas and said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson even came to Houston to talk to her about the deal. He returned her original Social Security card and birth certificate, she said.
"They were pretty amazing getting on it once we contacted them," Gutierrez said. "Brent was informative and helpful. He was very efficient."
Gutierrez first learned her identity had been hijacked when she was turned down for a mortgage nearly 12 years ago. Both women claimed they were identity theft victims and sought new Social Security numbers. The Social Security Administration turned down the request from Gutierrez, instead issuing a new number to the woman impersonating her. In another twist, Gutierrez was forced to file her federal income tax forms using a special identification number usually reserved for illegal immigrants.
This criminal's defense attorney said that what it boils down to, is her wanting to give her children a better life? Â Sounds like she was doing this before they were born. Â This woman used this method to dig her claws in for dear life to stay in this country out of nothing more than greed. She could have given her children a better life by not getting pregnant in the first place. But then, she wouldn't be able to use them as a Plan B, should the first method not work out. Â People like this make me have no faith in the system, because no matter what the victim does in this, or any other matter, they always end up being treated like the bad person. Â Too many times, I've seen and heard of stories like these, where the state feels bad for the perpetrator and how the victim basically needs to sympathize with the criminal's plight for a better life. Â Perhaps they should have their identifications left open to see how they would like it to work hard all of their lives, only to have someone else lay claim to their reward. Â This woman's credit is going to be shot for a long time, because of all the bureaucracy involved to clean it all up. Â 18 months? Â Still wouldn't be enough for me!
these are the type of people obama wants in this country.
Try prostitution instead.
"All animals are equal, but some are more equal".
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Two groups of people, two different standards of behavior.
Two different countries rapidly diverging... where and when does it end???
'The Social Security Administration turned down the request from Gutierrez, instead issuing a new number to the woman impersonating her. In another twist, Gutierrez was forced to file her federal income tax forms using a special identification number usually reserved for illegal immigrants.'
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So, in other words, the SSA knowingly assists illegal aliens  while not sufficiently protecting American citizens.... BOOOOOOOOOOO!
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One of the most simple, cost effective and helpful changes in law that could go a long way to solve the illegal alien problem.. is to force the SSA to share information with the IRS and vice versa. Â That way, there is little room to claim the excuse ' but we didn't know..' in continuing to sit on the problem.
 @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsPhredEÂ
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How many people crew the IRS because of claims made on income that SSA could correct?
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I am not even certain why the two agencies aren't under a single cabinet member? Oh wait SSA does not have one. Maybe the Treasury Secretary should be it. I mean they couldnât screw it up any more could they?
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Could they?
I believe that stealing identity needs to be made a crime comparable with serious assault.  After all, you are assaulting a person's life on many levels.  If after screwing up someone's life for twelve years all you get is 18 months, where it the big deterrent factor? Make it five years and maybe people will take notice.  Maybe  7 years would be better.  And don't many bank robbers and thieves want a better life for their kids, too?  Sorry excuse in my book.Â
 @BCH mom And mandatory deportation with no right/room for appeals for illegal aliens convicted of the crime.  Heck, let's go a step further, and charge the family out of the country for both the deportation and the victim's costs as well.
I can't imagine having my entire identity stolen. Having to fight to prove who I am. And still not be believed. It amazes me that a legal citizen will do an automatic seven years for robbing a bank, but a Mexican can slip over the border and steal our very lives, which btw can equate to money, too. All in the name of the kids they're squirting out. Never mind the kids of the struggling theft victim. It's hard to process. Were it me, I'd really want to thump someone.
Come on obama. Â You have been reelected, so the campaign promises you made to get votes don't matter now. Â You don't need the Mexican vote anymore, so send the illegals back to Mexico or whatever country they came from. Â
"Defense lawyer Matthew Works said after Monday's hearing in Wichita that his client was sorry and didn't intend to harm Gutierrez."She wanted to give her children a better life. That is what this is all about," Works said." Â (from the story)
How any attorney could get up there and say something like that with a straight face is w-a-y beyond me..! Â Â How does he think that raising your kids to be criminals is "giving them a better life"..?!? Â Â
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All illegals in the US have assumed another identity so they can get drivers licenses, loans, buy vehicles, work at a job,
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Deport all illegals. Today.
 @RalphCramden My husband's car was hit while he was inside a grocery store, by a woman backed too far in the parking lot when she was pulling out.  She spoke no English, and the insurance card she provided, was under someone else's name.  A month went by, where no one could locate this woman. One day, my husband saw her car parked at a Taco Bell (where she worked) while he was in line getting gas.  He notified his insurance, where they finally contacted her. She lied, and said that my husband was the one who backed into her car, and wanted to sue my husband for the massage treatments she received from a neck injury and bumper damage. When she discovered all that was going to be involved, she dropped it, and the insurance companies unjustly found both her and my husband at equal fault. This woman was obviously illegal.  Our insurance agent even had his suspicion of her being so.  He told us that the woman just wanted money, and that it wasn't the first time he encountered a situation like this. I agree.  They all need to get deported.Â
 @My2CentsÂ
I have had similar experience.
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Illegals have no respect for laws. I mean, they did come into the country illegally in the first place which is the biggest clue for me.
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If you look at the prison population most of the Hispanics are illegals and we are paying $3000 per month to keep them locked up.
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I was on a case of one illegal who hired 2 illegals to kill 2 other illegals. All the witnesses to the shooting were illegals. They all got life in prison. Cost to Oregon taxpayers is over 10 million after all is said and done.
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Ten million will pay for 1000 students in school for a year.
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@RalphCramden You should be required to have proof of auto insurance to get a drivers license.
 @Billy Batts Â
And proof of legal residency to buy a car with a valid drivers license.
I just don't believe it, another illegal is arrested and charged with another crime. ALL illegals should be deported as soon as it is verified they are illegally in the US. Take them all to the southern most border in mexico and leave them there................ There is NOT one single good illegal in the US including the Macy's thief, who should have been deported along with his parents who are here illegally along with his siblings..
Just another illegal alien doing what they do best, assuming citizenship!