Crime & Safety

South Jersey Woman Used Fake ID To Get Disability: Police

Luz E. Moreno, 39, of Carney's Point, was charged following an investigation that included the use of facial recognition technology.

A South Jersey woman has been charged with third-degree forgery and second-degree using another’s identifying information to obtain a government ID, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

Luz E. Moreno, 39, of Carney’s Point, was charged following an investigation that included the use of facial recognition technology. She obtained a New Jersey non-driver’s identification card at the office of the Department of Motor Vehicles in West Deptford, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Moreno was receiving disability benefits, and the ID card would have enabled her to continue collecting those benefits while working under a false identity, according to the prosecutor’s office. Authorities said she obtained the card by presenting the signature and identifying credentials of a friend.

Find out what's happening in Cinnaminsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Through a high-tech facial recognition computer program, also used to detect fraudulent attempts to obtain driver’s licenses, side-by-side comparisons of Moreno and the false ID image presented to the DMV on Sept. 12, 2017, determined both had the same features, blemishes and eye color, authorities said.

Moreno was arrested and charged on Wednesday, July 11. She was released pending a court date on Sept. 13. Det. Saul Cintron of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office worked with the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission on this investigation.

Find out what's happening in Cinnaminsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Image via Shutterstock

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.