Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment in Louisiana accusing a Guatemalan national of attempting to defraud the U.S. government by submitting a false application to sponsor an unaccompanied alien child (UAC).
The case raises concerns about the integrity of programs designed to protect vulnerable minors.
Justice Department Highlights the Threat to Vulnerable Children
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said the case illustrates the risks posed when individuals lie to gain custody of unaccompanied children.
“Defendants who falsify claims threaten the government’s ability to ensure these children are placed in safe and proper care,” he explained.
“We are fully committed to protecting vulnerable children and holding lawbreakers accountable.”
Local Prosecutors Praise Collaborative Law Enforcement Efforts
U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis, representing the Middle District of Louisiana, emphasized the coordinated effort to bring the defendant to justice.
“We are dedicated to preventing the exploitation of minors and their families by unscrupulous traffickers,” he said, noting the combined efforts of federal authorities in pursuing this case.
HHS Inspector General Condemns Attempts to Exploit Children
Christian J. Schrank, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at the Department of Health and Human Services, called the alleged fraud “reprehensible” and stressed that HHS-OIG, in coordination with other law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who attempt to exploit the Unaccompanied Alien Children program.
Allegations Against Felix Coc Choc
Court documents reveal that 29-year-old Felix Coc Choc of Rogers, Arkansas, submitted an application to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under penalty of perjury.
The application falsely claimed that he was the brother of a 16-year-old Guatemalan UAC who had entered the U.S. illegally in January 2023.
The indictment alleges that Coc Choc initially presented himself using a false identity, claiming his name was J.C.J., and submitted a Guatemala national identification card to support the claim.
After initially denying the misrepresentation, Coc Choc admitted to using a false identity before submitting a subsequent application under his real name, which ORR later denied.
Federal Charges and Potential Penalties
Coc Choc faces one count of making a false statement and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Conviction could result in up to five years in prison for the false statement charge, plus a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft charge.
Coordinated Federal Effort Targets Smuggling Networks
The charges stem from efforts by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security targeting human smuggling and trafficking across the Americas.
JTFA, expanded by the Attorney General, works with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and numerous Justice Department divisions, as well as federal law enforcement agencies such as DHS, FBI, and DEA.
To date, JTFA has secured more than 415 arrests, 355 convictions, and numerous asset forfeitures.
Investigation and Prosecution Team
HHS-OIG led the investigation, with support from Homeland Security Investigations in Guatemala and the U.S., ORR, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
JTFA trial attorneys Aaron Jennen and Nicole Lockhart, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Craig, are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from Samantha Usher of the Health Care Fraud Unit.
Part of Operation Take Back America
This prosecution is a component of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that mobilizes the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.
The operation coordinates resources from Project Safe Neighborhoods to streamline enforcement efforts.
Presumption of Innocence
Authorities stress that an indictment is merely an allegation.
All defendants, including Coc Choc, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.