Man Charged in Alaska Cruise Identity Theft

A 37-year-old Philippine national has been indicted for allegedly stealing an American citizen’s identity and using it to board a cruise ship in Alaska, according to federal prosecutors.

Enrico Ronquillo, who is legally residing in the United States, is facing four serious charges: one count of false impersonation of a U.S. citizen, one count of making and using a false document, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment was handed down last week by a federal grand jury in Alaska, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors allege that Ronquillo used a fraudulent California driver’s license and a fake birth certificate that bore the personal details of the identity theft victim. These counterfeit documents were reportedly submitted to gain entry onto the cruise ship’s passenger manifesto during a voyage from May 11 to May 14.

Adding to the severity of the case, authorities say Ronquillo also created and used a forged IRS Form W-9 while on board the ship. The fake form is said to have included the victim’s name, signature, address, and Social Security number. This additional document bolsters the prosecution’s claim that Ronquillo’s actions were part of a deliberate attempt to pass as a U.S. citizen for personal gain while aboard the cruise.

The name of the cruise line or vessel involved has not been disclosed by officials. It remains unclear whether the identity theft was discovered during the voyage or afterward, but the case has now drawn the attention of federal authorities due to its potential implications for both cruise security and immigration oversight.

If convicted, Ronquillo faces stiff penalties. Each aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison. In addition, the charge of false impersonation of a U.S. citizen could result in up to five years behind bars, while the charge of using a false document may also carry a similar maximum penalty. Both of these latter charges also include potential fines of up to $250,000 each.

This case highlights growing concerns about the use of fraudulent identification documents in international travel, particularly in cruise tourism where thousands of passengers are processed quickly at boarding terminals. Federal officials continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident and have not commented on whether additional individuals may have been involved or if this was part of a broader identity theft operation.

Ronquillo is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. No trial date has been publicly announced.

The case underscores the need for travelers to safeguard their personal information and for cruise operators to maintain rigorous document verification procedures during embarkation. As cruise lines continue to ramp up security post-pandemic, incidents like this are likely to increase scrutiny and lead to more sophisticated fraud detection protocols industry-wide.

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