Roberto Carlos Mendoza-Lazo, 45, of San Bernardino, has been charged with Identity Theft and Attempted Perjury.

In Jan. 2013, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit began a criminal investigation into alleged workers’ compensation fraud committed by Mendoza-Lazo. During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Mendoza-Lazo used the social security numbers of two individuals to obtain employment.

According to Senior Investigator Jose Guzman, who is assigned to the case, the defendant also attempted to obtain workers’ compensation benefits using the same social security numbers.

“After confirming with the Inspector General of the United States Social Security Administration that the numbers were valid and not issued to the defendant, we contacted the victims and they wanted prosecution,” Guzman said.

Investigators located Mendoza-Lazo at his place of employment in San Bernardino County where he was arrested and transported and booked into the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Central Detention Center jail.

Mendoza-Lazo was arraigned on May 31st, and pleaded not guilty to all counts. Deputy District Attorney Scott Byrd will prosecute this case. If convicted as charged, Mendoza-Lazo faces four years, two months in county prison.