WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A 44-year-old man from Mexico, who was residing in the United States illegally, has been arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) on multiple fraud-related felony charges.
Edgar Flores Robles was taken into custody on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, after an investigation revealed he had been using another man’s identity to gain employment.
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The investigation began on January 26, 2025, when a victim reported that his personal information was being used for employment purposes at Carpenter Contractors of America in Winter Haven. PCSO detectives contacted the company’s Human Resources department and obtained documentation that included the victim’s name, date of birth, and copies of his Social Security and passport cards.
The victim confirmed that he had lost his wallet several years prior in Plant City, which contained his Social Security card and passport identification.
Detectives discovered that Robles had been employed at the company since March 24, 2024, and had fraudulently received approximately $27,000 in wages using the victim’s stolen identity.
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Further investigation revealed that Robles had entered the United States on April 11, 2019, under an H2A Visa, which expired on June 11, 2019. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Robles had remained in the country illegally as a non-immigrant overstay.
“Identity theft can be a very difficult and time-consuming crime for someone to recover from. Had our suspect left the country when he was supposed to, this crime may have never occurred against the victim,” stated Sheriff Grady Judd.
Robles was initially facing three felony charges and one misdemeanor. However, due to his status as an unauthorized alien, each charge was enhanced by one degree.
He now faces the following felony charges: Obtain Property by Fraud (F1), Utter False Instrument (F2), Criminal Use of Personal Information (F2), and Unlawful Possession of Personal Identification (F3).
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