Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. CBP Officers Arrest Two Passport Imposters at Champlain Port of Entry

CBP Officers Arrest Two Passport Imposters at Champlain Port of Entry

Release Date
Mon, 01/05/2015

CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. –U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Champlain Port of Entry arrested two individuals over the holidays after attempting entry into the U.S. as passport imposters.

“An individual is considered an imposter when they present a travel document that does not belong to them and attempt entry into the U.S.,” said Paul Mongillo, CBP Port Director for the Port of Champlain. “Our officers are expertly trained in detecting this type of fraud.”

On December 24, CBP officers encountered Jose Luis Aragon Ruis, a 35-year-old male, Guatemalan citizen, attempted entry into the U.S. with a United Kingdom passport bearing a different photo and name. 

On December 31, CBP officers encountered Sire Betete, a 48-year-old female, Canadian citizen, who attempted entry into the U.S. with a Canadian passport bearing a different photo and name. 

CBP officers apprehended and arrested both individuals using observational and interview methods, along with biometric verification. 

Each violator was presented before a U.S. federal magistrate, charged with misuse of a passport, and remanded pending a detention hearing scheduled for later in January.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021