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Ex-Alaska officer charged for stolen identity, oil money collection

Officer Mora-Lopez faces criminal charges and may plead guilty

By Rachel D’Oro
Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska state prosecutors have filed a criminal charge against a former Anchorage police officer accused of living in the country illegally under a stolen identity.

Prosecutors say Rafael Mora-Lopez knowingly submitted false applications to collect thousands of dollars in dividends from the state’s oil-rich savings account.

Mora-Lopez is charged with unsworn falsification. State prosecutors say he has agreed to plead guilty to the charge and pay restitution for more than $27,000 in dividends from the Alaska Permanent Fund.

Mora-Lopez lived in Alaska more than two decades as Rafael Alberto Espinoza, a U.S. citizen now living in Mexico.

Mora-Lopez pleaded guilty earlier this month to federal counts of passport fraud and false claim of U.S. citizenship.

His attorney, Allen Dayan, did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press