Illegal immigrant allegedly worked as Alaska officer in ID theft Immigrant allegedly worked as officer in ID theft

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A Mexican national illegally in the U.S. stole another man's identity and worked as a police officer in Alaska, authorities said Friday.

Rafael Mora-Lopez pleaded not guilty to charges of passport fraud in U.S. District Court in Anchorage. At his arraignment, Mora-Lopez told a federal magistrate he is 47, even though officials listed his age as 51.

His attorney, Alan Dayan, declined to comment to the Associated Press.

Federal agents processing a renewal request for his passport discovered the alleged fraud. He was arrested Thursday after authorities searched his home and found documents confirming his true identity.

Mora-Lopez had been employed as an Anchorage police officer since 2005 under the name Rafael Espinoza.

"We have no evidence that this individual had at the time been anything other than a good police officer," Karen Loeffler, U.S. Attorney in Alaska, said of Mora-Lopez.

Officials said it's too soon to gauge implications of the case, such as any fallout over Mora-Lopez's court testimony in past criminal trials. They released limited details, saying the case was unfolding.

Anchorage police said the department conducted a pre-employment criminal background check on Mora-Lopez, who passed a polygraph test.

John Skidmore, a state attorney, said there are no immediate plans to file state charges. He and other officials stressed that the case was under investigation.

"At this time, we have no reason to believe, from what we know so far, that this gentleman or this officer's good work for APD has in any way been compromised or questioned," Skidmore said.

U.S. Magistrate John D. Roberts set bail at $50,000, and ordered Mora-Lopez to home-confinement and electronic monitoring. His defense attorney said Mora-Lopez has a wife and child in Alaska and has close ties to Anchorage, where he has lived since the late 1980s.

Mora-Lopez's arrest comes two months after Anthony Rollins, a former Anchorage police officer, was convicted of sexually assaulting women while on duty.