A Guatemalan national living in the United States without legal status has been indicted on fraud charges related to an application to sponsor an unaccompanied alien child. The indictment, unsealed in the Middle District of Louisiana, alleges that Felix Coc Choc, 29, of Rogers, Arkansas submitted false information under penalty of perjury when applying to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for custody of a minor.
According to court documents, after a 16-year-old Guatemalan child entered the U.S. illegally in January 2023, Coc Choc claimed he was the child’s brother and used another person’s name and identification card from Guatemala. He later admitted to using a false identity before submitting a new application under his real name, which ORR denied due to the alleged fraud.
Coc Choc faces one count each of making a false statement and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he could receive up to five years in prison for the false statement charge and a mandatory two additional years for identity theft.
“As alleged, this defendant made fraudulent misstatements to the U.S. government to try to sponsor an unaccompanied child in the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Defendants who lie to secure the care and custody of an unaccompanied child threaten the government’s ability to ensure that the child is placed in a safe environment with a proper caregiver. The Criminal Division is fully committed to protecting vulnerable children and delivering justice to those who violate the law.”
“I would like to thank our prosecutor and our partners for their tireless work on this matter,” said U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis. “We are committed to eliminating the exploitation of minors and their families by unscrupulous traffickers, and appreciate the resources which were brought to bear by federal authorities to bring this defendant to justice.”
“Deliberately attempting to defraud a government program designed to safeguard vulnerable children is a reprehensible act that demands accountability,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to rigorously pursue those who attempt to exploit the Unaccompanied Alien Children’s program and ensure they are held fully accountable under the law.”
The case stems from efforts led by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which targets human smuggling networks across North America, Central America, South America, and Caribbean regions that affect public safety at U.S borders. JTFA’s work has resulted in over 415 arrests domestically and internationally related to alien smuggling activities; more than 355 convictions; over 305 jail sentences; as well as significant asset forfeitures.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including HHS Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations’ Legal Attaché team in Guatemala, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking based in Washington D.C., as well as ORR.
Prosecution is being handled by JTFA Trial Attorneys Aaron Jennen and Nicole Lockhart along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Craig from Louisiana’s Middle District office.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—an initiative intended by federal authorities as part of broader efforts against illegal immigration networks impacting communities across several regions through programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods.
An indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
