Bean Town Times

A New Jersey woman has admitted guilt in a federal court in Worcester for using a fraudulent passport card at a Shrewsbury credit union. Elizabeth Clemente, aged 42, pleaded guilty to one count of forgery or false use of a passport. The U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman has set the sentencing date for February 6, 2025. Clemente was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024.

The incident occurred on November 7, 2023, when police were called to the credit union after employees reported that Clemente attempted to withdraw money by impersonating an actual account holder referred to as "Person #1." Initially identifying herself as "Heather," Clemente later provided law enforcement with the name of "Person #1" but failed to recall the associated birth date or address. Upon further questioning, she presented a fraudulent U.S. Passport Card featuring Person #1's name and real birth date but her own photograph.

The charge carries a potential maximum sentence of ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Boston Field Office; and Shrewsbury Police Chief Kevin Anderson. Assistant United States Attorney Danial E. Bennett from the Worcester Branch Office is handling the prosecution.