A Brazilian national residing in Woburn has been arrested for allegedly selling fake Social Security cards and Green Cards. Liene Tavares DeBarros, Jr., 39, faces charges of unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature. The arrest took place today, and Tavares DeBarros is set to make an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester.
According to the charging documents, Tavares DeBarros sold a Social Security Number Card and a Green Card to an undercover officer in October 2024 for $250. In December 2024, he allegedly sold two more Social Security cards and Green Cards to the same officer for $500.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, upon completion of any sentence imposed, the defendant will be subject to deportation. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Amy Connelly from the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General; Jonathan Mellone from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General; and Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III is prosecuting the case with support from Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF). This specialized group consists of personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies focused on detecting fraud schemes involving documents, identity, and benefits.
It is important to note that these details are allegations contained within the charging documents. The defendant remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.