An illegal immigrant from Mexico accused of assuming the persona of a Texas teacher pleaded guilty Monday in a case that put a face on the growing crime of ``total identity theft‘’ in the United States.

Benita Cardona-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of possessing fraudulent identification documents in a deal with prosecutors that calls for an 18-month prison term.

The 32-year-old was accused of completely assuming the persona of Houston elementary school teacher Candida Gutierrez, who first went public in a story by The Associated Press. Gutierrez recounted how the thief not only opened bank and credit accounts, but assumed her entire persona _ using it to get a job, a driver‘s license, a mortgage, food stamps and even medical care for the birth of two children. All the while, the crook claimed the real Gutierrez was the one who had stolen her identity.

As part of the plea deal, Cardona-Gonzalez agreed not to contest deportation after serving her sentence.

Defense lawyer Matthew Works said after Monday’s hearing that his client was sorry and didn‘t intend to harm Gutierrez.

``She wanted to give her children a better life. That is what this is all about,’‘ Works said.

Gutierrez said in a phone interview Monday that she plans to attend the sentencing, which is scheduled for March 25.

``I want to see her face to face. I want to see it actually happening,’‘ Gutierrez said. ``After all this time, I am still haunted. I want to be sure she is put away.’‘

Gutierrez said she would have liked to see Cardona-Gonzalez spend a more than 18 months in prison after everything she put her through. Still, she said she was satisfied with the plea deal because she and her husband want to get the case over with and move on with their lives.

She praised the U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas and said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson even came to Houston to talk to her about the deal. He returned her original Social Security card and birth certificate, she said.

``They were pretty amazing getting on it once we contacted them,‘’ Gutierrez said. ``Brent was informative and helpful. He was very efficient.‘’

Gutierrez first learned her identity had been hijacked when she was turned down for a mortgage nearly 12 years ago. Both women claimed they were identity theft victims and sought new Social Security numbers. The Social Security Administration turned down the request from Gutierrez, instead issuing a new number to the woman impersonating her. In another twist, Gutierrez was forced to file her federal income tax forms using a special identification number usually reserved for illegal immigrants. (AP)

<한글 기사>

'완벽한 신분 위장' 10년간 교사로 살아..

미국에서 완전 신원 위장 절도 범죄가 기승을 부리는 가운데 텍사스에 거주하는 한 교사의 신분을 자신인 것처럼 속이며 살아온 멕시코 불법 이민자가 월요일 유죄를 선고 받았다.

벤티나 카도나 곤잘레스는 (32, Bentina Cardona-Gonzalez) 사기 신분 증명서를 소유한 혐의로 18개월 형을 선고 받았다.

카도나 곤잘레스는 휴스톤 초등학교에서 교사로 재직 중인 캔디다 쿠테레즈의 신분을 도용해 운전 면허증을 취득하고, 직장을 구하고, 주택담보대출과 두 자녀의 출산 시에 병원 치료까지 받은 것으로 나타났다.

피해자 구테레즈는 12년 전 주택담보대출을 거부당했을 때 자신의 신원이 도용되고 있다는 사실을 발견해 신고 했지만 카도나 곤잘레스는 자신 또한 피해자라고 주장했다.

이에 미국 사회 보장국은 구테레스의 주장을 받아들이지 않고 미국에서 주민등록번호와 같은 개념인 사회보장번호를 새로 발급해줬다.

또한 구테레즈는 소득세를 납부할 때 불법 이민자에게 쓰이는 신원 번호를 사용하라는 강요를 당했다.

변호인인 매튜 웍스(Matthew Works)는 월요일 공판에서 의뢰인이 피해자를 해하려는 의도가 없었으며 미안한 마음을 가지고 있다며 “그녀는 자신의 자녀들에게 더 나은 삶을 주고 싶었을 뿐이다”라고 말했다.

구테레즈는 AP와의 전화 인터뷰에서 3월 25일로 예정된 판결을 출석 할 것이라고 말했다.

“직접 얼굴을 보고 싶다. 그 재판이 실제로 일어나는 것을 확인하고 싶다”며 “모든 일이 지난 후에도 불안감을 느낀다. 그 여성이 (감옥에) 들어가는 것을 내가 확인하고 싶다”고 말했다.