FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2014

Liberado Peralta, 69, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to claims and three counts of aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

In a related case, Florentina Peralta, a/k/a “Cindy Peralta,” Jose Peralta, a/k/a “Tony Peralta,” and Fayez Antonios were each charged today by information with the same offenses, and Jose Peralta was also charged with one count of making false statements to obtain a loan insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

If convicted, each defendant other than Jose Peralta faces a maximum possible sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $1 million fine, and a $400 special assessment.  Jose Peralta’s maximum sentence is 18 years’ imprisonment, 3 years’ supervised release, a $1.25 million fine, and a $500 special assessment.

The cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Dubnoff.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525