KNOXVILLE, TENN. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Tennessee, Eastern), published as received.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On October 21, 2026, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned an eleven-count indictment against Gregory Allan Porter, also known as “Tony Wayne Ortiz,” 67, of Sevierville, Tennessee, for two counts of false statement in a passport application, one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of misuse of a passport, one count of false claim of U.S. citizenship, one count of misuse of a social security number, and three counts of voting by an alien. Porter appeared in court on October 30, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment.  He was detained pending trial, which has been set for January 5, 2027, in U.S. District Court in Knoxville before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge. 

The indictment alleges that Porter, a Canadian citizen, entered the United States unlawfully in or around 1984 and thereafter assumed the identity of “Tony Wayne Ortiz,” an American citizen. Since in or around 1984, Porter lived and worked in the United States under the assumed identity of Tony Wayne Ortiz by fraudulently obtaining a birth certificate, social security number, Tennessee driver’s licenses, and United States passports.  In addition, Porter voted in numerous state, local, and federal elections under his assumed identity. 

If convicted, Porter faces terms of imprisonment ranging from one year to ten years and terms of supervised release ranging from one year to three years.  In addition, the aggravated identity theft count carries a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment which, by statute, must be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. 

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.        

This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; with assistance from the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Oxford Alabama Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Franklin Ammons represents the United States. 

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 

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