By: Richard L. Smith
An Illinois man has been charged with providing false U.S. passport cards through the mail, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Juma Wajid, 36, of Chicago, also known as “Jay Khan” and “Jamal Anthony,” is facing one count of furnishing a false, forged, and counterfeited U.S. passport for use.
Federal officials confirmed that Wajid appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III in Atlanta federal court and was released on a $15,000 unsecured bond.
The charges follow an extensive investigation that began when law enforcement intercepted a package in April 2024 containing a fake U.S. passport card.
According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, investigators uncovered evidence that Wajid used an online account to send hundreds of mailings between June 2022 and April 2024.
Authorities also discovered that Wajid advertised fake identification documents through an encrypted messaging app.
In August 2024, investigators purchased five counterfeit U.S. passport cards and other fraudulent documents from Wajid.
He reportedly produced the documents and mailed them to an address in New Jersey in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
“The scope of this operation demonstrates a troubling misuse of technology to facilitate illegal activity,” the U.S. Department of Justice stated.
If convicted, Wajid faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the financial gains of the offense, whichever is greater.
The investigation highlights the serious consequences of document fraud and underscores federal efforts to combat identity-related crimes. 