For most passengers, boarding a cruise simply means showing a passport or approved identification before starting a vacation.
But federal prosecutors say one man used someone else’s identity to get aboard an Alaska cruise ship, then allegedly turned that stolen identity into thousands of dollars at the ship’s casino.
More than a year after the voyage ended, the case has reached its conclusion.
A federal judge has sentenced Enrico Ronquillo, a 38-year-old Philippine national and lawful permanent U.S. resident, to 53 months in federal prison after he admitted to using a stolen identity to board an Alaska cruise and commit financial fraud while at sea.
Once his prison sentence is complete, he is also expected to face deportation proceedings.
The scheme began before the Cruise Even Left Seattle
According to federal court records, the case dates back to May 2025, when Ronquillo booked and boarded Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess using the personal information of a U.S. citizen.
Investigators say he used another person’s:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
to complete the cruise line’s online passenger application before embarking on the Alaska voyage from Seattle, Washington.
Because cruise ships sailing international itineraries must maintain accurate passenger manifests for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, passengers are required to provide valid identification before boarding.
Authorities say the stolen identity allowed Ronquillo to appear on official records as a U.S. citizen.
At the time, no one on board knew the identity he was traveling under allegedly belonged to someone else.
The Cruise Ended Early for One Passenger
The scheme unraveled just a few days into the voyage.
When Discovery Princess arrived in Juneau, Alaska, on May 14, 2025, officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) boarded the ship to conduct inspections.
During that operation, officers searched Ronquillo’s backpack.
What they reportedly discovered immediately raised red flags.
Investigators found several fraudulent documents, including:
- A California driver’s license displaying Ronquillo’s photograph but issued in another person’s name.
- Two counterfeit birth certificates.
- Additional documents investigators believed were connected to the identity theft scheme.
Authorities later confirmed the driver’s license belonged to a victim who had reported losing it in Las Vegas in 2023.
That discovery ultimately led to a much broader federal investigation.
Investigators Say the Fraud Didn’t Stop at Boarding
According to prosecutors, the false identity wasn’t used solely to gain access to the cruise.
Investigators also alleged Ronquillo used stolen financial information while onboard to obtain cash through the ship’s casino.
Authorities reportedly recovered a significant amount of cash from both his pockets and backpack.
Federal investigators later concluded that the money had been obtained using another person’s credit card information.
The alleged casino fraud became a key part of the government’s case and significantly expanded the investigation beyond simple identity theft.
Investigators Linked the Scheme to Multiple Crimes
According to court documents, authorities alleged the case involved several separate offenses, including:
- Identity theft.
- False impersonation of a U.S. citizen.
- Fraudulent identification documents.
- Financial fraud involving stolen credit card information.
The investigation eventually brought together multiple federal, state, and local agencies as they pieced together the full scope of the alleged scheme.
Guilty Plea Reduced the Number of Charges
Federal prosecutors initially filed four criminal charges against Ronquillo.
Rather than taking the case to trial, he later reached a plea agreement.
On February 19, 2026, he pleaded guilty to:
- One count of false impersonation of a U.S. citizen.
- One count of aggravated identity theft.
The remaining charges were not pursued as part of the plea agreement.
Several months later, the court handed down its sentence.
Judge Orders Prison, Restitution, and Supervised Release
On June 17, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ronquillo to 53 months in prison, or just over four years.
The sentence also includes additional penalties beyond incarceration.
The court ordered him to:
- Serve 53 months in federal prison.
- Pay more than $25,200 in restitution.
- Complete one year of supervised release after leaving prison.
For most defendants, supervised release marks the final stage of a federal sentence.
In Ronquillo’s case, however, another legal process is expected to follow.
Deportation Proceedings Expected After Prison
Although Ronquillo is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, he is not a U.S. citizen.
Federal authorities say he will be transferred to immigration officials after completing his prison sentence and supervised release.
At that point, he is expected to face formal deportation proceedings.
According to his defense attorney, the outcome could have major personal consequences.
Court filings note that Ronquillo has a partner and two children who are U.S. citizens.
Despite those family ties, his criminal convictions could make it difficult for him to remain in the United States.
The final immigration decision will ultimately be handled through a separate legal process.
Cruise Security Involves More Than Boarding Passes
Cases like this highlight how closely cruise ships work with federal agencies.
Although passengers often think of embarkation as simply checking in for a vacation, cruise lines must maintain detailed passenger records that are shared with government authorities.
Those records help agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection verify passenger identities before and during international voyages.
When ships arrive at U.S. ports, federal officers have the authority to board vessels, inspect documentation, and investigate potential immigration or criminal violations.
In this case, those routine procedures ultimately uncovered an alleged identity theft operation that extended well beyond the cruise itself.
A Reminder That Fraud Can Follow You Anywhere
Millions of passengers board cruise ships every year without incident, but this case serves as a reminder that crimes committed on or connected to a cruise vacation are still subject to federal investigation and prosecution.
What began as an attempt to board an Alaska cruise under a false identity eventually led to identity theft convictions, a lengthy prison sentence, financial penalties, and likely removal from the United States.
For investigators, the case demonstrates how quickly fraudulent documents and financial crimes can unravel once authorities begin comparing passenger records with official identification.
For travelers, it’s another example of the extensive security and law enforcement cooperation that exists behind the scenes every time a cruise ship enters or leaves a U.S. port.
