Jimmy Patronis

A 36-year-old Mexican man was sentenced to two years in federal prison after obtaining a U.S. passport at the Escambia County Clerk of Court Office by using another person's documents.

Carlos Dominguez Lopez pleaded guilty to false statement in an application for a U.S. passport and aggravated identity theft.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, in July 2022, Dominguez Lopez "purported to be another individual and executed a United States passport application at the Escambia County Clerk of Court Office."

Authorities say he provided a birth certificate and identification card in the other individual’s name, without that person’s permission. Dominguez Lopez was then issued a US passport.

“Trying to lie, cheat, and steal your way into this country won’t get you anything except a one-way ticket to federal prison and a swift deportation thereafter," U.S. Attorney Heekin said. "My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting criminal illegal aliens like this defendant who brazenly violate our immigration laws.”

County Clerk Pam Childers says the application in this case appeared no different than others they submit to the federal government.

County Clerks don't issue passports. They act as the eyes and ears for the application process, submitting applications to the state department.

Childers says the federal government indicated the documents were appropriate and nothing more could have been done on the clerk's side.

Congressman Jimmy Patronis calls Dominguez Lopez's sentence a slap on the wrist.

"I don't think two years is long enough to put somebody in jail for that," he said. "The good thing is you're talking about it right now, your viewers will see that it's something we're not going to tolerate in the United States."

Patronis says the problem is rare.

"Sometimes you may have a hiccup where something like this gets through the cracks," he said.

"We get calls all the time from people wanting statuses on their green cards," he added. "We answer those calls and process paperwork, legally. If you're here illegally we really don't have any patience for it. You need to go."

An ICE detainer has been lodged against Dominguez Lopez. Deportation proceedings against him will commence once he completes his prison sentence.