ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Joseph Fedrick, 42, of Guyana, with falsifying an application for a United States passport, U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Fedrick executed an application for a United States passport in Berkeley County, West Virginia. Within the application, Fedrick attempted to use a false social security number with the intent to secure the passport fraudulently.
Fedrick is charged with one count of “False Statement in Application for Passport.” He faces up to ten years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Department of the State Diplomatic Security Service and the United States Department of Homeland Security are investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. (United States Department of Justice)
