United States of America v. Eduardo Saavedra Melayes

Panama City, Florida, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with aggravated identify theft, falsely representing U.S. citizenship, and false statement in application for passport.

In December of 2023, the Eduardo Saavedra Melayes, 45, a Mexican national, submitted a passport application in-person at a Panama City post office. Upon processing, the application was denied due to indicators of fraud. An investigation uncovered that the defendant submitted the passport application using someone else’s identity. The documents submitted during the application process were possessed unlawfully. Additionally, a previous false passport was used in 2008, 2009, 2024, and 2025 to travel between the United States and Mexico. The defendant was at all times unlawfully present in the United States.

“We are a key partner in the United States’ work to reduce illegal immigration and root out those who endeavor to exploit the U.S. travel system,” said Ryan McSeveney, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office. “DSS proudly coordinates with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our U.S. and international law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of crime related to passport and visa fraud — and to bring those who commit these crimes to justice.”

The sentence was the result of an investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Defendant sentenced to 1 day credit for Time Served as to Counts 1 & 2, and 24 months BOP as to Count 3, to run consecutively. No term of supervised release imposed. SMA $300. No Fine