Not Guilty Plea For Man Accused Of Having Dual Identities

SAN DIEGO -- A federal grand jury handed up indictments Thursday against a man profiled by 10News investigators.

He is a man who allegedly used a dual identity to avoid taxes.

One birth certificate said he was born in Mexico, while another makes him a natural-born U.S. citizen, investigators said.

Now, these alleged double identities are at the center of an expanding federal criminal case.

Steven Pedroarena has never agreed to speak to 10News investigators about his alleged double identity and why he is accused of having birth certificates in Mexico and the U.S. with two different names.

Investors told 10News Pedroarena used his dual identities to allegedly rip them off.

"I never even knew of a Steven Pedroarena until he filed banktruptcy. At that point, I basically put two and two together that he had a false identity," said investor Ralph Nieders.

Pedroarena’s own sister said he used his dual identities to allegedly steal her inheritance.

“I tell you, after this whole thing is over, if he gets off, there isn’t any place I can hide,” said Leslie Pedroarena.

Now, federal prosecutors accused the Chula Vista man of using his double identities to avoid paying taxes.

An indictment handed up by a federal grand jury accused Steven Pedroarena of bribery, bank fraud and three counts of tax evasion.

Nieders said, "The whole purpose of using twin identities is to basically not pay taxes in the U.S."

Nieders said this case should serve notice to others leading double lives on both sides of the border.

"It sends out a clear signal that you can't hide behind false identities not to pay taxes,” added Nieders.

Pedroarena’s attorney, James Pokorny, said the charges were driven by others to hound his client into submission.

Pedroarena pleaded not guilty to the charges in federal court Friday.

A federal prosecutor said there may be more people who are using dual identities to evade the authorities.

"What we've heard since we started this investigation is word's gotten out that there are possibly other leads out there that we could lead. It's certainly something that's important to us that we will follow up if we find any credible leads," said Deputy U.S. Attorney Chris Tenorio.

Pedroarena's wife, Maria Del Carmen Pedroarena, is expected in court next week to face charges in the indictment.