An 86-year-old man, Napoleon Gonzalez, has been convicted on multiple charges, including mail fraud, Social Security fraud, passport fraud, and identity theft. The conviction took place in Portland, where authorities used facial recognition technology to uncover the deception.

Gonzalez, a resident of Etna, assumed his deceased infant brother’s identity back in 1965, a full 25 years after his sibling’s death. He then exploited this stolen identity to double dip on Social Security benefits, obtaining multiple passports and state identification cards under both identities.

The case was tried in a US District Court in Bangor, where the jury found him guilty. He now faces up to 20 years in prison, with mail fraud carrying the heaviest potential penalty.

Gonzalez’s attorney has stated intentions to appeal the conviction and will seek to keep Gonzalez out of prison until the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals issues a ruling.

The case highlights the growing role of technology in uncovering fraud and the ongoing challenges in protecting personal identities. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant about protecting your personal information.

Here are some tips for protecting your personal identity:

  • Be careful about what information you share online. Do not post your full name, date of birth, or Social Security number on social media or other websites.
  • Use strong passwords and security measures. Your passwords should be at least eight characters long and should include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Be aware of the risks of identity theft. Be on the lookout for signs of identity theft, such as unauthorized charges on your credit card or bank account.
  • Report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately. If you think that your identity has been stolen, you should report it to the police and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

By following these tips, you can help to protect your personal identity from fraud and other crimes.

In addition to the tips mentioned above, here are some other things you can do to protect your identity:

  • Shred any documents that contain your personal information before you throw them away.
  • Register for a credit freeze, which will prevent creditors from accessing your credit report without your permission.
  • Get a fraud alert, which will require creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity before opening a new account in your name.
  • Monitor your credit report regularly for any suspicious activity.

By taking these steps, you can help to protect yourself from identity theft and other crimes.