An allegedly mismatched Social Security number, date of birth and name sent up red flags that launched an investigation of Eaton, Levin said.
The investigation revealed Eaton allegedly owed a substantial amount of overdue child support, which under the State Department’s Passport Denial Program would render him ineligible for a new passport.
“Once [the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Support Enforcement] has entered a name into their database, then our job and our role is to ensure that those people do not have active passports,” said David Bates, public affairs staffer at the State Department.
Representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services would not reveal how much child support Eaton owed, but the denial program applies only to those who owe more than $2,500.
Eaton was detained Saturday at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles and was released on $100,000 bail Monday after appearing before a U.S. Magistrate judge.
“Now [Eaton’s case] will go work its way through the court process,” Levin said.
It was unknown whether Eaton planned to leave the country soon after receiving his passport, Bates said.
“At this point in time, I have no information that he was going anywhere, but by virtue of the fact that he applied for another passport suggests that he might have had plans,” he said. “And if he did, those plans are now on hold.”
If convicted, Eaton faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the State Department.
RACHEL KANE covers education. She may be reached at (818) 637-3205 or by e-mail at rachel.kane@latimes.com.
