usdoj.gov, Aug 29, 2005

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARIO J. GINBAPTISTE, also known as “Mario Jean Baptiste”, also known as “Paul William Thomas”, also known as “Paul Williams Thomas”, also known as “Honore Boncoeur,” formerly of 432 West Spring Street, West Haven, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to providing false information to the Social Security administration and to making a false statement on a passport application. United States District Judge Janet B. Arterton accepted GINBAPTISTE’s pleas of guilty this morning in New Haven. On April 19, 2005, a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport returned a seven-count Indictment charging GINBAPTISTE with three counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of Social Security fraud, one count of passport fraud, and one count of making false statements to law enforcement authorities. GINBAPTISTE today pleaded guilty to Count One and Count Three of the Indictment.

According to documents filed with the Court, on or about June 27, 2004, GINBAPTISTE submitted an application for a United States passport. On his application, GINBAPTISTE listed his name as "Paul Williams Thomas," his date of birth as July 21, 1974, and his place of birth in New York, New York, all of which he knew to be false. GINBAPTISTE also attached a birth certificate with the name “Paul William Thomas” to the application. Further, on or about January 7, 2005, GINBAPTISTE submitted an application for a duplicate Social Security card. On this application, GINBAPTISTE listed his name as "Paul William Thomas," his date of birth as July 21, 1974, and his place of birth in New York, New York.

Judge Arterton has scheduled sentencing for November 10, 2005, at which time GINBAPTISTE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $500,000. GINBAPTISTE has been detained since his arrest in Provo, Utah, on March 11, 2005.