EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A federal judge sentenced Mayorie Fernandez-Ormeno, a 37-year-old illegal immigrant from Chile, to 45 months in prison for an identity theft scheme that spanned 7 states and victimized 18 people, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced.
Fernandez-Ormeno pleaded guilty to five counts: conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, attempted access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal reentry after deportation. The court ordered her to pay $47,218.84 in restitution. She is expected to be deported after serving her sentence.
“This defendant showed no respect for our laws,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “She illegally entered the country and then made a living stealing other people’s identities. Those who thumb their nose at our sovereignty and prey on hardworking Americans will face the full force of federal law. Our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law.”
Fernandez-Ormeno had previously been removed from the United States but unlawfully returned in October 2023. A superseding indictment was returned in February 2025 following her arrest in Philadelphia. According to court documents, from approximately February 1, 2024, to April 25, 2024, Fernandez-Ormeno and a coconspirator targeted individuals at local retailers in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, stealing credit cards and using them for personal purchases, resulting in $47,218.84 in losses to 18 victims.
“This sentence demonstrates the consequences for those who exploit stolen identities and victimize hardworking Americans across multiple states,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI will continue to aggressively investigate transnational fraud schemes and work with our partners to ensure that those who commit these crimes are brought to justice and held financially accountable to their victims.”
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations. The Department of Justice also announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, which supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Edwardsville Police Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case. Fernandez-Ormeno faces deportation proceedings upon completion of her 45-month sentence.