Trying to Use Fake SSN Leads to Felony Fraud Charges, Police Say

The couple that defrauds together, stays together? A Sturtevant couple is facing a single felony charge each of attempted fraud after police say they tried to buy a car with a bogus social security number.

Raul and Eva Zagal were charged in Racine County Circuit Court Thursday each with a single count of attempted fraud of a financial institution of amounts greater than $10,000 but less than $100,000. If convicted, they each face up to five years in prison and/or up to $12,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Mount Pleasant Police were called to the Gentile Automotive Group dealership on June 12 after personnel there were alerted to a possible case of fraud after the Zagals filled out a credit application and the bank reported the social security number was being used fraudulently. 

When officers confronted the Zagals, Eva Zagal first tried to say she mistakenly used the wrong social security number. After more questioning, she admitted they used the number not just to try and buy a car with over $35,000 in financing from Gentile, but also at Educator's Credit Union in another attempt to obtain auto financing.

Police say that Raul Zagal admitted the social security number in question was given to him by someone when he first came to the U.S., but he didn't purchase that number. The police reports indicate that Eva Zagal is a U.S. citizen and Raul is a permanent resident with a number assigned to him by Social Security.

Both of the Zagals are free on $3,000 signature bonds. They next appear in court on Jan. 23 for preliminary hearings before Court Commissioner Alice A. Rudebusch.