DMX Paternity Docs Sent to Wrong Earl Simmons

DMX almost got a free pass on his latest paternity case, because the docs went to the wrong person ... someone unlucky enough to share X's real name!

We're told Earl Simmons from Massachusetts got docs in the mail from the Florida Dept. of Revenue, informing him he'd have to start paying child support to 2 of DMX's kids.

Yadira Borrego -- X's ex -- tells TMZ she filed the docs to establish paternity with the state, so DMX can pay child support through the proper legal channels ... and avoid another jail stint. She says he already supports their kids, but it's been off the books.

The person who's really screwed is the faux DMX, who works in the biomedical field. Poor guy's got 2 kids of his own, and we're told Florida is insisting he take a DNA test to prove he's not the real Ruff Ryder.