Diplomatic Security Service Investigation Exposes Counterfeit Passport Fraud Network, Leads to 10-Year Federal Sentence

Diplomatic Security Service Investigation Exposes Counterfeit Passport Fraud Network, Leads to 10-Year Federal Sentence

The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) uncovered a sophisticated, multi-state fraud scheme built on counterfeit U.S. passport cards and stolen identities, bringing two of its central figures to justice through a years-long investigation that culminated in significant federal prison sentences.

On April 7, 2026, Ciera Julieth Blas, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Kelly Josek, 41, of New York, New York, also pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison in January 2026. The sentences reflect both the scale of the criminal operation and the sustained, coordinated effort required to bring these two criminals to justice.

“Ciera Blas’s sentencing follows several years of unceasing investigative work by the DSS Resident Office in Dallas,” said Ryan Pack, Special Agent in Charge of the DSS Houston Field Office. “This significant penalty demonstrates the seriousness with which we pursue fraud involving counterfeit U.S. passport cards and other travel documents.”

From Routine Traffic Stop to Major Federal Case

What began as a routine traffic stop by the Flower Mound Police Department in Texas quickly revealed the outlines of a much larger criminal enterprise. Officers stopped a vehicle driven by Blas, with Josek as a passenger, and discovered seven counterfeit U.S. passport cards along with accompanying bank cards matching the names identified on the passports. The discovery of multiple passport cards prompted Flower Mound PD to contact DSS, which holds federal jurisdiction over passport and visa fraud.

DSS agents expanded the case beyond the initial encounter, uncovering a coordinated operation that used stolen personal identifying information to manufacture fraudulent passport cards and access victim financial accounts across the United States.

A Sophisticated Criminal Network

DSS investigators determined that Blas and Josek operated within a broader network of identity thieves and imposters. The scheme relied on counterfeit U.S. passport cards and supporting documents to impersonate victims and steal money from their bank accounts through cash withdrawals, wires, and intrabank fund transfers

DSS later discovered that Blas and Josek used the personal identifying information of more than  80 individuals, along with passport-style photos of 12 different individuals, to create counterfeit passport cards bearing their names and images. The investigation confirmed that victims lost more than $1.3 million. Further analysis connected Blas to additional fraud investigations totaling more than $8 million and approximately 2,500 victims, underscoring the scope and impact of the network.

Tracking a Fugitive to Arrest

After a prior arrest in 2022, Blas violated the terms of her pre-trial release and fled, continuing the criminal enterprise under new fraudulent identities. DSS special agents and intelligence specialists used a combination of financial analysis, intelligence collection, and interagency coordination to track her movements and identify a Houston-area residence leased under a false identity.

In January 2025, DSS arrested Blas with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. A search warrant executed at her residence uncovered counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks, cashier’s checks, counterfeit passport cards tied to stolen identities, firearms, and materials used to manufacture fraudulent identification documents. Based on this evidence, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas indicted Blas and co-conspirator Ishmael Cadet on 33 additional counts, including aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, bank fraud, possession of counterfeit passports, and possession of firearms by prohibited persons.

The investigation was conducted by DSS in coordination with the Flower Mound Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas as part of Operation Take Back America. 

The case highlights the critical role that DSS plays in protecting the integrity of U.S. travel documents and disrupting criminal networks that exploit them. Counterfeit passport cards and identity documents enable a wide range of criminal activity, from financial fraud to broader threats impacting public safety and national security. Through years of sustained investigative work, DSS exposed the full scope of this counterfeit passport fraud network and ensured those responsible were identified, pursued, and brought to justice–protecting American victims and safeguarding the security of U.S. travel documents.