New Yorkers sentenced to federal prison for illegal counterfeit passport operation in the Eastern District of Texas as part of Operation Take Back America

SHERMAN, Texas - Two New York women have been sentenced to federal prison for an illegal counterfeit passport operation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Ciera Julieth Blas, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on April 7, 2026.

Kelly Josek, 41, of New York, New York, also pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant in January 2026.

According to information presented in court, officers with the Flower Mound Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Blas, where Josek was a passenger. During the stop, officers discovered seven U.S. Passport Identification Cards along with accompanying bank cards matching the names identified on the passports. The investigation was turned over to the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service who later discovered that Blas and Josek used the personal identifying information of over 80 other individuals, along with passport-style photos of 12 different individuals, to create counterfeit passport cards bearing their names and images.

"This case highlights the significant work of local law enforcement in protecting our communities, and our nation every day," said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. "In this case, a routine traffic stop was anything but routine. Counterfeit passport cards, and other identifying documents, enable all types of crime from fraud to terrorism. We take these crimes very seriously and we appreciate the Court sentencing Blas to the statutory maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and Josek to over seven years."

"Today's sentencing is very welcome and the positive result of several years of unceasing investigative work by the DSS Resident Office in Dallas," said Ryan Pack, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Houston Field Office. "The significance of the penalty clearly demonstrates how seriously fraud involving the use of counterfeit U.S. passport cards and other official government documents is taken."

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, Flower Mound Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

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