PORT TOBACCO, Md. — A federal grand jury has indicted Jorge Echeverri, a 73-year-old resident of Port Tobacco, Maryland, on multiple charges stemming from an alleged decades-long scheme involving identity fraud and theft of government benefits. The indictment, announced on March 10, 2025, by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes, includes counts of theft of government property, false statements, passport fraud, misuse of a Social Security number, and false statement of citizenship. The case highlights a coordinated effort by federal agencies to address identity-related crimes.
Echeverri, identified as a Colombian national, faces allegations of illegally entering the United States in 1972 and being deported three times. According to the indictment, he unlawfully re-entered the country between 1985 and 1987 for a fourth time. Prosecutors claim Echeverri then assumed the identity of Pedro Torres Rivera, a U.S. citizen, using a fraudulent Puerto Rican birth certificate to establish this persona. Under the Rivera identity, Echeverri allegedly applied for and received Social Security retirement benefits from May 2010 through January 2025, totaling an unspecified amount of government funds.
The indictment further alleges that Echeverri leveraged the fraudulent identity for additional illicit activities. He is accused of applying for a U.S. passport, voting in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, and misusing a Social Security number—all actions reserved for lawful U.S. citizens. These charges reflect a pattern of deception that spanned over three decades, according to federal authorities.
U.S. Attorney Hayes announced the indictment alongside key investigators: Michael S. McCarthy, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); David Richeson, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Washington Field Office; and Collen Lawlor, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Philadelphia Field Division. The investigation was led by HSI’s Document Benefit Fraud/El Dorado Task Force, with support from DSS and SSA-OIG, underscoring a multi-agency effort to combat fraud involving government benefits and identity documents.
If convicted, Echeverri faces significant penalties. The passport fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, as does the theft of government property count. Additional charges—false statements, Social Security misuse, and false citizenship claims—could add to his potential penalties, though specific maximums for those counts were not detailed in the announcement. Federal sentencing, however, typically results in terms less than the statutory maximums. A federal district court judge will determine Echeverri’s sentence, guided by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, if he is found guilty.
The indictment is an accusation, not a conviction. Echeverri is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law, with his case set to proceed through the federal judicial process. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon is prosecuting the case, working under Hayes’ office to present evidence against Echeverri.
Located in Charles County, Port Tobacco is a small, historic community near the Potomac River, roughly 30 miles south of Washington, D.C. Echeverri’s alleged activities, conducted from this quiet area, contrast with the scale of the charges leveled against him. The Social Security Administration, which provides retirement benefits to millions of Americans, relies on accurate identity verification to prevent fraud—a system Echeverri is accused of exploiting for over 14 years.
Hayes praised the investigative teamwork that led to the indictment. “U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI’s Document Benefit Fraud/El Dorado Task Force, DSS, and SSA-OIG for their work in the investigation,” the announcement noted. The El Dorado Task Force, based in Baltimore, specializes in uncovering fraud related to immigration and benefit programs, often collaborating with agencies like DSS, which oversees passport security, and SSA-OIG, which polices Social Security abuses.
The case sheds light on broader issues of identity theft and its impact on government systems. According to a 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office, Social Security fraud losses exceed $1 billion annually, with identity misuse a persistent challenge. Echeverri’s alleged actions—spanning passports, voting, and benefits—illustrate how a single fraudulent identity can ripple across multiple federal programs.
As the legal process unfolds, attention will turn to the evidence presented by Dixon and the defense’s response. For now, the indictment marks a critical step in addressing what authorities describe as a long-running scheme rooted in Charles County.
