## South African Man Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft A South African man pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft after stealing the identity of a deceased toddler to obtain U.S. citizenship. The man assumed the name of a toddler who died decades ago to build a new life in the United States. According to court documents, he used the birth certificate and Social Security number associated with the deceased child to establish his identity. ## Details of the Case - The identity theft was discovered during routine checks by authorities. - The false identity allowed the man to secure citizenship and live in Miami. - The original child died in 1985. ## Impact and Legal Consequences The man faces charges for using fraudulent documents and identity theft, a serious offense with significant legal ramifications. This case highlights the vulnerabilities in identity verification processes. > "He essentially lived under a lie to gain a foothold in the U.S.," said a spokesperson involved in the investigation. *** This case underscores how identity theft, even involving deceased individuals, can be used to bypass immigration laws, stressing the importance of vigilance in verifying personal information.

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WPEC CBS 12 — 2025-11-30