Federal prosecutors allege that counterfeit Social Security cards sold for $750 apiece contained names and numbers belonging to real people. A grand jury indictment in Georgia charges Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez with document trafficking and identity theft, but the charges remain allegations and no conviction has been entered.
Three undercover purchases form the core account
According to the Social Security Administration inspector general, Alvarez-Rodriguez allegedly sold an undercover agent three Social Security cards between March 11 and May 19, 2026. Prosecutors say each card cost $750 and was followed by a message containing the corresponding birth date for the person named on it.
Agents arranged to buy two more cards on August 5. They arrested Alvarez-Rodriguez when he arrived and seized four additional Social Security cards, the government says. A later search of his residence also found a semiautomatic pistol, leading to a separate firearms allegation tied to his immigration status.
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Separate federal resources explain identity-theft response steps and how the Social Security Administration handles stolen Social Security numbers.
A real number makes a fake card more dangerous
A visibly fake number can fail quickly when an employer or agency checks it. A counterfeit card carrying a valid number assigned to someone else creates a deeper problem because the number may pass an initial format or database check while wages, taxes or applications begin attaching to the wrong person’s record.
The indictment summary says the cards bore identifying information of real victims. That wording is significant. The alleged conduct is not limited to making unauthorized pieces of plastic; it involves using actual identities as the content of those documents, creating potential employment, tax and credit consequences for people who may not know their information has circulated.
The indictment contains multiple legal theories
Alvarez-Rodriguez faces 18 counts of trafficking in false authentication features, three counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of producing false identification documents and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. The charging document’s count structure reflects different alleged acts and does not mean every count will result in a separate conviction or sentence.
Aggravated identity theft focuses on knowingly using another person’s means of identification during specified crimes. Document-production and trafficking charges focus on making or transferring false credentials and authentication features. Prosecutors must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until a court finds guilt.
The $750 figure is a transaction price, not a victim loss
The headline number comes from the amount allegedly paid for each of three undercover purchases. It does not measure the financial damage suffered by the people whose Social Security numbers appeared on the cards. Their losses, if any, could take the form of tax-record errors, employment complications, credit applications or the time and expense of correcting files.
Nor does the $750 represent a government benefit. It is the alleged price of an illegal document. The federal release makes no claim that benefit payments were issued through the cards involved in this case.
Records can reveal misuse before a bill arrives
Social Security earnings records can expose wages attached to a number that the legitimate holder did not earn. Credit reports can show unfamiliar accounts or inquiries. IRS notices may identify wages reported under a Social Security number but omitted from the real holder’s return. Each clue belongs with the agency or institution that maintains the affected record.
A report of identity theft does not resolve the criminal case, and an indictment does not prove the accused caused every discrepancy a victim finds. The current September 9 primary record establishes only the government’s allegations: three $750 sales, authentic victim information on counterfeit cards and additional cards recovered during the investigation.
The real holders may see several kinds of mismatch
Unauthorized employment can place wages on a Social Security earnings history and create tax records under the wrong person’s number. A counterfeit document also may be used to open an account or support another credential. Each use leaves a different trail, which is why a clean credit report alone cannot rule out all Social Security-number misuse.
Conversely, an unfamiliar wage entry does not prove it came from the cards in this indictment. The official release does not name the real holders or describe how their numbers were selected. Any connection between a specific victim’s record problem and Alvarez-Rodriguez would require agency or investigative confirmation.
Presumption of innocence controls every remaining count
The indictment records a grand jury’s finding that probable cause supports charges, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Alvarez-Rodriguez can contest the government’s account, the identification of the documents, the alleged sales and the firearms count. The three undercover transactions give the case a concrete narrative, but they remain allegations until a plea or verdict.
That posture is why the title uses “allegedly sold.” The $750 figure can be reported as the government’s documented transaction price without declaring the charged person guilty. If the case later ends differently, the conviction status would change while the September 9 indictment announcement would remain a record of what prosecutors alleged.
Benefits Require Their Own Verified Records
This prosecution concerns identity misuse, not a shortcut into legitimate assistance. Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help and unclaimed-property searches each use separate official records and application paths, which is why program details belong in one documented reference rather than an unsolicited offer.
The 69-page Benefits Checklist covers 11 programs, the 2026 income limits and a 50-state phone directory, with a printable tracker included with the download.
Read the documented program list in The Benefits Checklist.
This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor. Figures are linked to their primary sources; where a claim could not be verified from the public record, we say so.
