The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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May 24, 2008

Charge filed in case of identity theft

By Cass Rains, Staff Writer

An Enid man has been charged with felony identity theft for allegedly using a Chicago man’s identity to work at an Enid business.

Marco Gonzales, 19, faces a possible sentence of one to five years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000 or both if convicted.

According to an affidavit filed with the case, Enid police received a call May 13 from Hugo Diaz, a Chicago resident, who said he had been receiving Social Security assistance after being diagnosed with leuke-mia.

Diaz told police he’d recently received a letter stating his benefits were going to be canceled because of his employment with Advance Food Co. in Enid, the affidavit states.

Diaz provided Enid police with a copy of his passport and a report from Chicago police proving his identity.

When police spoke with Advance officials, they confirmed a man named Hugo Diaz was working for the company and had been since April 15. The man provided a Texas Department of Public Safety identification card and Social Security Card in the name of Hugo Diaz, the affidavit states.

When police went to Ad-vance to speak with the man, he arrived at an office wearing a hard hat with the name Hugo Diaz on it, the affidavit states. When police asked him for his personal information, he provided the same information on file with the company and identical to the information as Hugo Diaz in Chicago.

When police asked the man if he was working under his correct name, he “became quiet and stated he did not want to talk” to police further, the affidavit states.

During a search after he was arrested, police found a Mexico driver’s license bearing the name Marco Antonio Gonzales. The picture on the license matched that of the man police were speaking to, according to the affidavit.

The man refused to give his real name during booking at Garfield County Detention Facility and was booked as John Doe. Charges filed in Garfield County District Court were filed with the name Marco Gonzales.

Gonzales is being held in lieu of $7,000 bond and was ordered to return to court June 2 for a preliminary hearing.

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