U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that CAROL JOHN, a/k/a INES ISABEL RUIZ, a/k/a CAROL ATKINS, age 56, a citizen of Panama, was charged today in a two-count Indictment for making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport and reentry of removed alien.
According to the Indictment, on or about March 4, 2016, JOHN applied for a passport and falsely stated that she had been born in the Panama Canal Zone, which she knew to be false. The Indictment also charges that, on or about May 23, 2016, JOHN was found in the United States after having been officially deported on or about May 24, 1996, following a conviction for attempted cocaine distribution.
If convicted, JOHN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of up to $250,000, five (5) years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $200 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the United States Diplomatic Security Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.