http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... d0914.html

36 arrested in Valley sting targeting forged ID papers

Michael Kiefer
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 14, 2006 12:00 AM

A multiagency law enforcement task force on Wednesday arrested 36 individuals suspected of forging and selling fraudulent identification documents, according to a spokeswoman at the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

A Maricopa County Superior Court grand jury returned 10 indictments against people suspected of document forgery, and members of the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force served search warrants on 16 addresses in Phoenix, Glendale and Scottsdale, where they seized computer and printing equipment.

Over the course of a two-month investigation, officers bought false government ID cards, Social Security cards, resident alien credentials and other documents.

The documents could be had for $100 and were made available within 30 minutes, according to the Attorney General's Office.

The sting "sends a very strong message on the streets," Attorney General Terry Goddard said.

The names of six of the people indicted were released Wednesday. Rodolfo Garcia Terrones, 34; Gabriel Visoso, 34; Mario Deaquino, 37; Daniel Garcia Castillo, 20; Raul Cuicoyatl Otero, 34; and Volivar Mendoza Duarte, 22; were charged with racketeering and multiple counts of forgery and trafficking in the identity of another.

The other four defendants were not identified because one is a minor and three have not yet been served with the indictments, according to a spokeswoman. The other people arrested were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force was created last summer by Gov. Janet Napolitano.