Ronquillo Gets 53 Months in Discovery Princess ID Theft Case
Officers arrested Ronquillo when the ship reached Juneau, where a backpack search found two birth certificates and a California driver's license that appeared fraudulent.
Updated June 25, 2026
A Philippine national who used stolen U.S. identity information to board Discovery Princess in Seattle for an Alaska cruise was sentenced June 17, 2026, to 53 months in federal prison. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Enrico Ronquillo, 38, when the ship reached Juneau on May 14, 2025.
The federal case centered on identity data submitted before embarkation, fraudulent documents found after the ship arrived in Alaska, and cash prosecutors tied to a casino transaction using another person's credit card. Ronquillo pleaded guilty Feb. 19, 2026, to false impersonation of a U.S. citizen and aggravated identity theft.
Fraudulent documents found after arrival in Alaska
Ronquillo boarded Discovery Princess in Seattle on May 11, 2025, after using stolen identity information in his passenger application, prosecutors said. He represented himself as a U.S. citizen and used another person's name, date of birth, and address when completing the cruise line's online passenger application.
The stolen identity allowed Ronquillo to appear on the ship's passenger manifest as a U.S. citizen, authorities said. After the ship arrived in Juneau, CBP officers searched his backpack and found two birth certificates and a California driver's license that appeared to be fraudulent. Investigators also found a fraudulent W-9 tax form.
One of the birth certificates and the driver's license contained the personal information of an identity-theft victim known to investigators. The victim told investigators that his original driver's license had been lost in Las Vegas in 2023. Prosecutors said Ronquillo was also carrying a large amount of cash in his pockets and backpack, drawn from the ship's casino using another person's credit card.
"Mr. Ronquillo knowingly used stolen identities and personal information of innocent US citizens to gain passage on a cruise ship and enrich himself at its casino," said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska.
Guilty plea followed indictment and attempted flight
A federal grand jury indicted Ronquillo on June 10, 2025. Court records said he admitted the scheme to officials, acknowledged similar crimes on ships, and planned to leave Juneau by plane the day of his arrest.
Ronquillo was released on bail several days later. He then cut off his ankle monitor and attempted to flee Juneau. Police recaptured him at Juneau International Airport.
The sentence also requires Ronquillo to serve one year of supervised release after prison and pay more than $25,000 in restitution. He will be subject to deportation proceedings after serving his sentence. Local media noted that Ronquillo is a lawful permanent resident, but the convictions could affect his ability to remain in the United States.
