Vidal Blanco-Blas convicted of using deceased infant's identity for 40 years

Vidal Blanco-Blas, 62, has been convicted by a federal jury for aggravated identity theft and making false statements in connection with a U.S. passport application. For over four decades, Blanco-Blas used the identity of Julio Cesar Torres, an infant who died in Mexico at approximately three months of age, to live in the United States.

Using the stolen identity, Blanco-Blas obtained a Social Security number, a Texas driver’s license, a voter registration card, and a U.S. passport. The deception was uncovered in April 2023 during a passport renewal attempt in Greenville, Texas, which triggered an investigation by the Department of State.

Authorities noted that the stolen identity allowed Blanco-Blas to conceal a significant criminal history, including multiple convictions for drug-related offenses. During the trial, it was revealed that he even instructed his daughter to refer to him publicly as ‘uncle Julio Cesar Torres’ to maintain the facade.