Navy Sailor Arrested for Attempting to Purchase Fraudulent DoD Identification Cards for Illegal Chinese Nationals
Jacksonville, Florida - Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Raymond Andres Zumba (27, Staten Island, NY) has been arrested by NCIS and charged by indictment with bribery of a public official. If convicted, Zumba faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Zumba has been ordered detained pending trial.
An investigation by NCIS and Homeland Security Investigations revealed that Zumba contacted a confidential source whose spouse worked at NAS Jacksonville in the personnel office that issues Department of Defense identification cards, and asked whether the spouse would be willing to issue real, but unauthorized ID cards for an under-the-table payment. Acting at the direction of federal agents, the source proceeded to engage in a series of communications with Zumba during which they discussed Zumba’s plan to obtain unauthorized ID cards in exchange for cash.
On February 13, 2025, Zumba, along with three individuals, including a Chinese national, arrived at NAS Jacksonville where the source’s spouse let them into the personnel office after business hours and initiated the process for them to receive ID cards. The following day, Zumba met with the source, who gave him fraudulent cards in exchange for a monetary payment. NCIS promptly arrested Zumba and recovered the cards.
As the Department of the Navy’s primary investigative arm, NCIS leverages its unique law enforcement and counterintelligence authorities to vigorously pursue those who attempt to compromise our national security, including by attempting to gain access to military installations through fraudulent means. NCIS is committed to working with Homeland Security Investigations and our federal, state, local and international partners to protect military secrets from ending up in the hands of our nation’s adversaries.
Zumba’s indictment is merely a formal charge that he has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the NCIS Southeast Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Mesrobian and Michael J. Coolican.
The above story references information from a Department of Justice press release dated March 3, 2025, which may be found here.