Seven Year Sentence for Criminal Alien Who Produced Counterfeit Documents

A Mexican national convicted for his role in a large-scale counterfeit document ring has been sentenced to seven years in prison following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the California Department of Motor vehicles.

Javier Hernandez-Lopez, 35, of Sacramento and Mexico City, was sentenced Friday, August 3, 2012, by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. for manufacturing false identification documents and for being a deported alien found in the United States.

According to court documents, Hernandez-Lopez had been deported from the United States after serving a prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter. Following that deportation, he returned illegally to the United States and participated in a large-scale Sacramento-area conspiracy to manufacture fraudulent documents.

Hernandez-Lopez and his co-conspirators collected biographical information and photographs from individuals and business owners who wanted false identification document, such as alien registration receipt cards (green cards), driver's licenses, and Social Security cards. This information was either hand delivered or transmitted by a cellphone to the person who manufactured the false documents. The defendants then delivered the documents to the purchaser in exchange for cash.

"As this sentence makes clear, those who willfully violate our nation's immigration laws and engage in illegal activities that pose a potential security threat face serious consequences," said Daniel Lane, assistant special agent in charge for the HSI Sacramento. "The counterfeit documents produced by these operations can be used by criminals and others to mask their identities and obscure their motives. For that reason, HSI will continue to work closely with its local and federal law enforcement partners to target those who put our communities at risk simply to satisfy their own greed."

HSI agents working undercover purchased documents from Hernandez-Lopez and his co-conspirators. During the execution of search warrants, agents found computers, specialized software, high-end printers, card readers, holograms and other sophisticated equipment used to manufacture fraudulent identification documents.

Judge Burrell previously sentenced the three other defendants involved in the conspiracy: Juan Hernandez-Lopez, 39, Luis Eduardo Torres-Hernandez, 25, and Alejandro Bielma-Ortiz, 40, received sentences of 33 months, 19 months and 24 months respectively.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Anderson prosecuted the case.

Nine Arrested for Document Conspiracy and Fraud

Nine suspects face federal criminal charges following their arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents during an enforcement action Monday, April 23, targeting three large-scale counterfeit document mills operating in the Central Valley.

The suspects, who made their initial appearance in federal court the morning of Tuesday, April 24, are charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy and fraud, and misuse of visas. Specifically, the defendants were allegedly involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit identification documents. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.

As part of the enforcement action of Monday, April 23, HSI special agents executed search warrants at six residences in Fresno, Tulare and Madera counties and at a Fresno One Hour Photo shop that was also linked to the scheme. During those searches, special agents discovered and seized hundreds of fraudulent identities in the process of being manufactured, along with numerous document-making supplies, including printers and laminators. In addition, special agents recovered more than $5,000 in cash from the various search locations.

"Trafficking in counterfeit documents poses a serious security vulnerability and contributes to a host of other types of crimes, including identity theft and financial fraud," said Clark Settles, the special agent in charge who oversees HSI Fresno. "Our goal in these investigations is to identify and ultimately dismantle the criminal organizations behind these highly lucrative schemes."

The defendants charged in connection with the investigation are:

·                             Luis Mirabete-Pena, 23, of Fresno;

·                             Marco Arias-Solis, 40, of Fresno;

·                             Felix Santiago-Matias, 41, of Fresno;

·                             Othoniel Parra-Gallardo, 31, of Tulare;

·                             Eretzander Morales-Lozano, 22, of Tulare;

·                             Benjamin Aparacio-Pablo, 26, of Tulare;

·                             Dalia Reyes-Serapio, 29, of Fresno;

·                             Ubaldo Castillo-Hernandez, 41, of Ontario, Calif.; and

·                             Jenny Thanh Nguyen, 55, of Clovis, Calif., owner of the One Hour Photo.

The arrests and searches are the culmination of a long-term HSI probe focusing on some of the area's most prolific document counterfeiting operations. Based on the investigation, special agents believe the targeted mills, two located in Fresno and one in Tulare, are responsible for producing and distributing more than 100 counterfeit documents a month. Those documents included phony permanent resident alien or "green" cards and Social Security cards.