Carlos Abreu, a 36-year-old resident of Sunrise, Florida, has admitted guilt in two consolidated federal cases. The charges include falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote, using another's name to vote, possessing firearms as an alien without lawful status, making false statements for a passport application, and aggravated identity theft.
According to factual proffers, Abreu entered the United States without inspection in 2007 and assumed the identity of "C.R.V.," a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico who was unaware of this impersonation. Between 2007 and his arrest in August 2024, Abreu used "C.R.V.'s" identity with various government agencies.
Abreu acquired a Florida driver's license in 2007 under the assumed name and registered to vote in 2016, renewing his registration in 2020. He confessed to voting in federal elections during 2016 and 2022. Additionally, he obtained a concealed carry permit and purchased four firearms using the same false identity. In 2021, he attempted to secure U.S. passports for himself and his daughters under "C.R.V.'s" identity without authorization.
Abreu is set for sentencing on June 10, 2025, before U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz. He faces up to fifteen years for gun possession, ten years for passport fraud, five years for voting-related offenses, and a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Conklin of the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office.
The DSS Miami Field Office led the investigation with support from DSS San Juan Resident Office in Puerto Rico and ATF Miami. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brianna Coakley and Daniel Rosenfeld; asset forfeiture is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadya Z. Cheatham.
Further details are available on the websites of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the District Court for the Southern District of Florida under case numbers 24-cr-60155 and 25-cr-60015.