For over fifteen years, Daniel Kluver, a factory worker and father from rural Minnesota, lived a nightmare not of his making. While he led a quiet life in his hometown, authorities believed him to be a serial tax evader responsible for a fatal car accident. The truth, however, was far more disturbing: his identity had been systematically stolen and used by an undocumented migrant.
A Life Hijacked
The first signs of trouble emerged over a decade ago when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began demanding payment for taxes on income Daniel Kluver swore he never earned. The 42-year-old, who has spent his entire life in Olivia, Minnesota, suddenly started receiving mysterious pay stubs for jobs across the Midwest. To the IRS, it appeared Kluver was working multiple jobs, earning more than $130,000 annually, while only declaring taxes on one salary.
Despite repeatedly filing identity theft reports and alerting law enforcement, Kluver found no relief. The situation escalated dramatically in 2024 when he was pulled over by police and informed his license was suspended due to offences in Missouri – a state he had rarely visited. He later discovered his name was implicated in the death of a 68-year-old grandfather in a car crash that also injured a nine-year-old girl.
The Real Culprit Unmasked
The mystery was finally solved earlier this year following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid. The investigation uncovered Romeo Perez-Bravo, an undocumented migrant from Guatemala, who had purchased Kluver's Social Security number on the black market. Perez-Bravo had been using Kluver's identity since 2009.
Perez-Bravo's story is one of repeated illegal entry. He first crossed into the US from Mexico at age 16. After being deported in 2005 following charges for DUIs and assault, he managed to return twice in 2008, each time assuming a stolen identity. He eventually settled in St Joseph, Missouri, with his wife and five children.
The fatal incident occurred in 2022 when Perez-Bravo, driving under Kluver's name, lost control of his car after a serpentine belt snapped. He ran a red light and struck the grandfather and child. While the crash was ruled an accident, the victim's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming Daniel Kluver as the defendant.
Financial and Emotional Fallout
The consequences for the Kluver family have been severe and long-lasting. Daniel and his wife Kristy have been forced to pay $135 per month to the IRS since 2012 to reduce a $22,000 tax debt incurred by the impersonator. Remarkably, just before their wedding, Kristy had drained her $6,000 savings to clear a previous false debt, only for a new one to appear the following tax season.
Kluver described the profound psychological impact, saying he felt he had 'lost all control over who I am.' His wife Kristy confirmed the situation has been 'nerve-wracking' for the entire family, who are still paying off the IRS debt.
Perez-Bravo was finally arrested in March 2024 on his way to work at a dog food factory. He faces charges of aggravated identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number, carrying a mandatory two-year prison sentence before deportation to Guatemala. While expressing remorse for wrecking Kluver's life, he seemed more concerned about his inability to work, stating, 'I'm here and I'm worthless. This is not a life.'
The case highlights the devastating real-world impact of identity theft. As a Department of Homeland Security official noted, 'Behind every stolen Social Security Number is a real American: mothers, fathers, students, and workers facing devastating financial, emotional, and legal fallout.'
