Who? Deputies say suspect gave dozens of aliases

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Deputies in Rowan County say a 46-year-old man arrested last week for felony identity theft has used dozens of fake names over several years to get out of criminal charges.

When he was charged last week, the suspect said his name was Vincente Barrera. He later said his name was Jorge Ortiz-Zaragoza. Deputies discovered that the Ortiz-Zaragoza name was in FBI records as an alias used before to try and get out of criminal charges. Ortiz-Zaragoza confessed it was not his real identity and said that he had used 27 names in the past.

Deputies then used fingerprints to determine that the man has used as many as 35 different names.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office records show that Ortiz-Zaragoza has been deported five times. The criminal history connected to those fingerprints includes multiple drug felonies in addition to the assault charge.

The investigation is still open and Ortiz-Zaragoza, listed in the detention center as Vincente Barrera, was jailed on a bond of $10,000 on charges of identity theft and assault on a female.

Barrera is set to appear in court on Monday.