Declined Prosecution in Passport Fraud Case

Our clients, a husband and wife, had just been appointed guardianship in Texas over their niece, who was taken out of an abusive home. The clients were contacted by the State Department about a recent passport application filed by them on behalf of their niece. The plan was to take their niece with them on a family vacation to her native country so she could meet her relatives. After our federal lawyers discussed the investigation with the federal agent in charge, reviewing the numerous court orders granting guardianship and various rights granted to the clients, and providing a detailed summary of our position, the agent changed his position on his earlier findings. After his review, he recommended that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina decline to prosecute the case, which it agreed with.