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Crime & Courts

Fraudster Who Impersonated DEA Agent Sentenced to Federal Prison

Matthew John Sanguine, 49, of Orlando, was sentenced to five years and five months in federal prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and impersonating an officer of the United States.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 26, 2026, 3:09 p.m. ET
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On August 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe Matthew John Sanguine (49, Orlando) to five years and five months in federal prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and impersonating an officer of the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. Sanguine pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025. The court also ordered forfeiture of $10,000, the proceeds of the bank fraud conviction. According to court documents, on May 2, 2022, Sanguine was stopped by the Orlando Police Department while driving a stolen vehicle. Officers found a Florida driver license bearing Sanguine's photo but listing the identity of an Arizona resident ("J.R."). While his state case was progressing, Sanguine presented the State Attorney's Office with a fraudulent letter purportedly authored by a DEA agent, claiming he was authorized to have the false license because he was working as a DEA informant. The letter demanded the return of the license, warning of a "grave risk" if it was not returned immediately. The State Attorney's Office suspected the letter was not authentic and referred the matter to the FBI. The FBI's investigation revealed that Sanguine had used "J.R.'s" identity for at least a decade and had used it to perpetrate bank fraud for $10,000. The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Orlando Police Department and the State Attorney's Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Dana E. Hill.

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  1. Version 126 Aug 2026, 19:09current

    First published.

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