Key Aspects:
- A federal judge sentenced a cruise passenger to more than four years in prison for identity theft and falsely claiming to be a US citizen.
- Investigators found multiple fraudulent documents, including a counterfeit driver’s license, birth certificate, and tax form.
- The man was also ordered to pay more than $25,000 in restitution and faces deportation after serving his sentence.
A man who boarded an Alaska cruise under a stolen identity will spend over four years in federal prison. The man admitted to identity theft and falsely claimed to be a US citizen.
Enrico Ronquillo, 38, was sentenced June 17, 2026, in federal court after pleading guilty to one count of false impersonation of a US citizen and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to court documents.
The case began when Ronquillo boarded a cruise ship in Seattle on May 11, 2025. Prosecutors said he represented himself as a US citizen during the boarding process and used another person’s name, date of birth, and address when completing the cruise line’s online passenger application.
Three days later, when the vessel arrived in Juneau, officers with US Customs and Border Protection conducted a search and discovered documents that raised concerns.
“Mr. Ronquillo knowingly used stolen identities and personal information of innocent US citizens to gain passage on a cruise ship and enrich himself at its casino,” said US Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska.
In addition to the prison sentence, Ronquillo was ordered to serve one year of supervised release after completing his prison term. The court has also ordered him to pay more than $25,000 in restitution.
Because Ronquillo is not a US citizen, authorities said he faces deportation proceedings after serving his sentence. Local media noted that while he is a lawful permanent resident, the convictions could affect his ability to remain in the country.
“This fraudster stole the identity of a US citizen and impersonated the victim while on board a cruise said, where he then continued to commit financial fraud crimes on the high seas,” said Charge Zachary Pomerantz, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.
Pomerantz reminded the public that identity theft and impersonating a US citizen carry real consequences and that his office is committed to protecting US citizens.
Multiple Fraudulent Documents
Cruise ships sailing in international waters are required to maintain accurate passenger manifests for inspection by US Customs and Border Protection. Ronquillo’s use of a stolen identity allowed him to appear on the ship’s manifest as a US citizen.
After the unidentified Alaskan cruise ship arrived in Juneau, Customs and Border Protection officers boarded the vessel and searched Ronquillo’s backpack, leading to the discovery of fraudulent documents, including a California driver’s license connected to an identity theft victim who reported losing it in Las Vegas in 2023.
The stolen driver’s license with Ronquillo’s photo was not the only fraudulent document tied to the case. According to court records, investigators found a counterfeit birth certificate and a fraudulent W-9 tax form.
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The multiple documents helped investigators piece together the broader identity theft scheme and included numerous federal, state, and local agencies, including Alaska State Troopers, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the TSA’s Office of Law Enforcement, the Federal Air Marshal Service, and the FBI’s Los Angeles Office.
After a federal indictment in June 2025, Ronquillo later pleaded guilty in February 2026 before receiving his sentence this month.
