Mexican national after using fake identity to pose as US citizen

A Mexican national who tried to pass himself off as a US citizen has been jailed after a long-running passport fraud was uncovered by federal investigators.

Eduardo Saavedra Melayes, 45, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting aggravated identity theft, falsely claiming US citizenship and lying on a passport application, as per WJHG.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, Melayes submitted the fraudulent application at a post office in Panama City, raising suspicions that led to a deeper probe.

Investigators found the application used another person’s identity and included documents that were not legally valid. The passport request was rejected, but authorities later uncovered a wider pattern of deception.

Melayes had allegedly used a fake passport to travel between the United States and Mexico in 2008, 2009, 2024 and 2025, despite never holding valid immigration status.

US Attorney confirmed Melayes will be deported after serving his sentence.