Five California Defendants Charged With Using Other People’s Social Security Numbers to Accumulate $143,034 in Debt

Federal prosecutors have charged five people in separate criminal complaints with allegedly using Social Security numbers (SSNs) assigned to other people to obtain credit, run up debt, and then seek bankruptcy protection. Four defendants were arrested on October 1, 2026. The fifth is still being sought.

These are allegations only. No defendant has been convicted. Each is presumed innocent unless the government proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Short answer for consumers: this is a criminal prosecution, not a class action or settlement. There is no claim form, settlement website, or payout program. If your SSN was misused, the steps to protect yourself are below.

Quick Facts: Central District of California SSN Credit Fraud Cases

Detail	What the federal record says
Announced by	U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California (Press Release No. 26-183)
Date announced	October 1, 2026
Type of proceeding	Five separate federal criminal complaints
Defendants charged	5
Defendants arrested	4 (October 1, 2026)
Defendant still sought	Moisés Ortuño-Claras
Alleged offense	Fraud in connection with access devices involving more than $1,000 (18 U.S.C. § 1029)
Maximum penalty stated by DOJ	Up to 15 years in federal prison per defendant, if convicted
Reported combined debt	$143,034 (DOJ described it as more than $140,000)
Bankruptcy filings	February to May 2025, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California
Court appearances	Initial appearances expected in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana and Los Angeles
Case numbers	Not listed in the DOJ release reviewed; not guessed here
Official announcement	U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California press release (see Sources)
Class action / settlement	No
Consumer claim form	None. No official claim website exists

What Happened?

According to federal prosecutors, each defendant used an SSN belonging to someone else to obtain credit, mostly retail store cards and credit lines. Between February and May 2025, each then filed for bankruptcy in the Central District of California.

Prosecutors rely in part on the bankruptcy filings. According to the affidavits, each defendant signed a sworn declaration under penalty of perjury stating that an SSN not assigned to them had been used to obtain credit. Prosecutors say the real SSN holders did not authorize the use.

The alleged conduct has two parts:

1. using another person’s SSN to obtain credit, and
2. using bankruptcy in an attempt to eliminate the resulting debt.

Who Was Charged?

Abel Ávila Martínez, 48, Buena Park

Arrested October 1. Prosecutors say he was previously removed from the U.S. in 1999. He allegedly applied online in November 2024 for a PayPal credit card using another person’s SSN, receiving a $6,250 limit, and made a $1,185 purchase at a Guitar Center in January 2025. His bankruptcy filing reported $15,964 in debt.

Walter Anastacio Castellanos-Pérez, 53, Rancho Dominguez

Arrested October 1. He allegedly obtained a Best Buy card with a $2,000 limit in March 2023 and bought an appliance for about $1,206 in a Compton store in May 2023. His bankruptcy filing reported $32,961 in debt.

José Alfredo Chávez-Cabello, 54, Long Beach

Arrested October 1. From May 2022 through May 2023, he allegedly used a MyPremier card with a $1,000 limit obtained through another person’s SSN, accumulating $1,238 in purchases and cash withdrawals. His bankruptcy filing reported $19,153 in debt.

Verónica Espinosa-Cortés, 54, Bell Gardens

Arrested October 1. Prosecutors say an immigration judge ordered her removed in 1996. She allegedly obtained Daniel’s Jewelers credit lines totaling $3,717 in November 2021 and made a $1,000 purchase in Culver City in June 2024. Her bankruptcy filing reported $10,982 in debt.

Moisés Ortuño-Claras, 47, Anaheim (still at large)

He allegedly applied online in February 2023 for a Bass Pro Shops card with a $6,000 limit using another person’s SSN and made purchases totaling $3,522 in Orange County in December 2024. His bankruptcy filing reported $63,974 in debt, including accounts tied to Old Navy, Macy’s, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Sam’s Club.

Debt Reported by Each Defendant

Defendant	Reported debt
Abel Ávila Martínez	$15,964
Walter Anastacio Castellanos-Pérez	$32,961
José Alfredo Chávez-Cabello	$19,153
Verónica Espinosa-Cortés	$10,982
Moisés Ortuño-Claras	$63,974
Combined	$143,034

The $143,034 total is the sum of the five individual amounts identified in the DOJ release.

What Federal Crime Are They Accused Of?

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said each defendant was charged with fraud in connection with access devices involving more than $1,000. Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1029), an “access device” can include information or an instrument used to obtain money, goods, services, or other things of value.

DOJ stated that each defendant faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in federal prison if convicted. A statutory maximum is not an expected sentence. Any sentence would depend on the outcome of the case and federal sentencing rules.

The public release does not identify the specific subsection charged in each complaint, and it does not list aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028A) as a charge. This article therefore does not assume additional charges.

What Does This Mean for the People Whose SSNs Were Used?

The people whose numbers were allegedly used are not defendants. They are the alleged victims. Even if you never opened an account, SSN misuse can cause:

• unfamiliar accounts or inquiries on your credit reports;
• collection notices for debts you did not incur;
• lower credit scores if fraudulent accounts are wrongly attributed to you;
• complications with credit applications, tax filings, or benefits; and
• time and expense spent proving the fraud.

For background, see What Is Social Security Identity Theft? How It Happens and What to Do About It.

What To Do If Someone Used Your SSN

1. Check your credit reports. Get free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com for Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Look for accounts, addresses, or inquiries you do not recognize.
2. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze. Freezes are free at the three nationwide bureaus and make it harder to open new credit in your name. A freeze does not remove existing fraudulent accounts.
3. Report to the FTC. Use IdentityTheft.gov to create an identity theft report and recovery plan. See Where Is the Best Place to Report Identity Theft? for which agencies to contact.
4. Contact the creditor. Tell it the account was opened without your authorization and ask what documents it needs. Keep copies of everything.
5. Dispute in writing. Send disputes to the credit bureaus and creditors (certified mail is a good idea), with your FTC report and any police report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, bureaus must investigate disputes.
6. Check for related problems. Review your Social Security account at ssa.gov for earnings you do not recognize. If you suspect tax-related misuse, review your IRS account and consider IRS Form 14039.
7. If a bankruptcy was filed under your number, contact the U.S. Trustee’s office for your area and a consumer-protection attorney about having it corrected.
8. Keep evidence: creditor letters, statements, credit-report entries, reports, collection notices, and records of time or expenses.

If law enforcement or the U.S. Trustee contacts you about these cases, take it seriously and respond; consider getting legal advice first.

Can Victims Get Money From These Cases?

Not through any public claim process announced by the government. The DOJ announcement does not create a compensation program. Victims may have separate rights involving fraudulent accounts and credit reporting, but those are independent of the criminal charges. Whether restitution is ever ordered would depend on convictions and the court.

What Happens Next?

The four arrested defendants were expected to make initial appearances in federal court in Santa Ana and Los Angeles. Ortuño-Claras remained at large as of the announcement. The cases can proceed through detention or release decisions, arraignment, motions, possible plea negotiations, and, if necessary, trial. No trial dates or pleas had been publicly announced as of October 5, 2026.

Key Dates

Date	Event
November 2021	Alleged Daniel’s Jewelers credit obtained (Espinosa-Cortés)
May 2022 to May 2023	Alleged MyPremier card use (Chávez-Cabello)
February 2023	Alleged Bass Pro Shops card obtained (Ortuño-Claras)
March 2023	Alleged Best Buy card obtained (Castellanos-Pérez)
November 2024	Alleged PayPal credit applied for (Ávila Martínez)
February to May 2025	Defendants allegedly file for bankruptcy
October 1, 2026	Four arrests; charges announced; Ortuño-Claras remains wanted

Frequently Asked Questions

Were the defendants convicted of identity theft? 

No. These are criminal complaints containing allegations. Each defendant is presumed innocent.

What federal charge did they face?

 Fraud in connection with access devices involving more than $1,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

How much prison time could they face?

 DOJ states a statutory maximum of 15 years per defendant if convicted. That is not the same as an expected sentence.

How much debt was involved?

 The five individual amounts total $143,034. DOJ described it as more than $140,000.

Is this a class action? 

No. It is five separate federal criminal cases. There is no class, claim form, or settlement administrator.

Can I be held responsible for debts opened with my SSN?

 Generally, victims are not liable for debts they did not incur, but you must report and dispute the fraud properly, and results depend on your facts. Following the steps above and keeping records is important.

Can a fraudulent bankruptcy filing hurt my credit?

 It can if the filing is matched to your credit file. Providing proof of fraud to the bureaus and the U.S. Trustee is the way to seek correction.

What are the case numbers? 

DOJ announced five separate complaints, and the public release reviewed does not list individual case numbers. Check PACER and the U.S. Attorney’s Office page once docket numbers are available.

Where can I find official updates? 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California website and PACER.

Bottom Line

Federal prosecutors allege five defendants used other people’s SSNs to obtain credit, accumulated $143,034 in debt, and sought to erase it through bankruptcy. Four were arrested and one remains at large. For consumers, the key points are that this is a criminal case with no claim form, and that anyone whose SSN was misused should check their credit, freeze it, report the fraud, and dispute fraudulent accounts. The charges are allegations, and the defendants remain presumed innocent.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, Press Release No. 26-183 (October 1, 2026): “4 Illegal Aliens Arrested on Federal Charges that They Stole Social Security Numbers to Run Up Retail Large Credit Card Debts Then Filed for Bankruptcy”: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/4-illegal-aliens-arrested-federal-charges-they-stole-social-security-numbers-run
2. Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, news release (October 1, 2026), same title.
3. 18 U.S.C. § 1029, fraud and related activity in connection with access devices.
4. Federal Trade Commission, IdentityTheft.gov; AnnualCreditReport.com; Social Security Administration (ssa.gov); IRS Form 14039.

Legal information disclaimer: AllAboutLawyer.com is a consumer legal information website, not a law firm, and this article is not legal advice. Criminal complaints contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If you believe you are a victim, consider consulting a consumer-protection attorney.

Researched and written by the AllAboutLawyer.com editorial team. Last reviewed October 5, 2026.