The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, in coordination with local and federal authorities, dismissed forgery charges against 23-year-old Diego Lopez Gomez to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take over the case and proceed with deportation in a more efficient manner.
Gomez was arrested in Boardman after an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and Boardman Police Department determined he attempted to obtain an Ohio ID using counterfeit documents, including a fake Social Security card and resident card. BMV employees identified discrepancies in the documents and alerted law enforcement. Upon further investigation, authorities confirmed the documents were fraudulent. Boardman Police worked with ICE to coordinate the best way to proceed.
Given ICE’s jurisdiction over immigration-related offenses and Gomez’s apparent unlawful status in the United States, the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the state forgery charges to allow federal immigration authorities to handle the matter.
“Our office prioritizes the effective use of resources and ensuring cases are handled by the appropriate authorities,” said Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro.
The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to working with local, state, and federal partners to uphold the integrity of legal processes and public safety in the community.