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ENLARGE
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — A suspected illegal immigrant who allegedly used a Rifle woman’s social security number at Glenwood Medical Associates may plead guilty.
Carlos Suriano, 33, of Glenwood Springs, gave up an initial opportunity to challenge any evidence against him Tuesday after a tearful conversation with his attorney.
“He’s obviously very upset. The record should reflect that he’s been crying. He’s been crying for the better part of 45 minutes,” said his attorney, Public Defender Tina Fang, after indicating Suriano would waive his right to a preliminary hearing.
Deputy District Attorney Anne Kirkpatrick said her office is offering a plea bargain in which Suriano could plead guilty to identity theft under a deferred judgment and sentence and plead guilty to a charge of false reporting without a deferred judgment and sentence.
The identity theft charge is a class four felony and the false reporting charge is a misdemeanor. A deferred judgment and sentence can result in no conviction if a defendant stays out of trouble and cooperates with probation.
Glenwood Springs police arrested Suriano Nov. 4 on suspicion of identity theft and forgery. An employee at Glenwood Medical Associates told police Suriano came in on Oct. 30 and gave her a social security card to pay for treatment, police said in an arrest affidavit.
The employee said the social security number actually belonged to a Rifle woman whose information was already in the clinic’s system, police said.
The clinic employee photocopied the social security card and an expired U.S. Resident Alien Card that Suriano presented, police said, and she alerted the customer whose social security number was already in the clinic’s system. The customer told a police detective about the allegations.
Suriano had a construction job. The clinic employee called the employer and asked about the social security number. The employer said, “Well, that’s what he gave us,” and didn’t seem concerned, police said.
Suriano is being held in the Garfield County Jail and appears in court again Feb. 10.
Carlos Suriano, 33, of Glenwood Springs, gave up an initial opportunity to challenge any evidence against him Tuesday after a tearful conversation with his attorney.
“He’s obviously very upset. The record should reflect that he’s been crying. He’s been crying for the better part of 45 minutes,” said his attorney, Public Defender Tina Fang, after indicating Suriano would waive his right to a preliminary hearing.
Deputy District Attorney Anne Kirkpatrick said her office is offering a plea bargain in which Suriano could plead guilty to identity theft under a deferred judgment and sentence and plead guilty to a charge of false reporting without a deferred judgment and sentence.
The identity theft charge is a class four felony and the false reporting charge is a misdemeanor. A deferred judgment and sentence can result in no conviction if a defendant stays out of trouble and cooperates with probation.
Glenwood Springs police arrested Suriano Nov. 4 on suspicion of identity theft and forgery. An employee at Glenwood Medical Associates told police Suriano came in on Oct. 30 and gave her a social security card to pay for treatment, police said in an arrest affidavit.
The employee said the social security number actually belonged to a Rifle woman whose information was already in the clinic’s system, police said.
The clinic employee photocopied the social security card and an expired U.S. Resident Alien Card that Suriano presented, police said, and she alerted the customer whose social security number was already in the clinic’s system. The customer told a police detective about the allegations.
Suriano had a construction job. The clinic employee called the employer and asked about the social security number. The employer said, “Well, that’s what he gave us,” and didn’t seem concerned, police said.
Suriano is being held in the Garfield County Jail and appears in court again Feb. 10.
