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POSTED: 2:22 pm PST March 30, 2006
UPDATED: 6:48 pm PST March 30, 2006
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LOS ANGELES -- Authorities arrested 11 suspects and closed down seven "document mills" in South Los Angeles, which produced fake Social Security cards, driver's licenses and other documents, federal officials said Thursday.

Ten suspects were arrested yesterday and are scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday afternoon. The 11th suspect already was in custody on unrelated state charges, according to authorities.

Those arrested include Rosario "Challo" Buenrostro, 49; Maria Cristina Buenrostro, 26; Victor Julio Rosales, 24; Pedro Gallardo, 45; Victor Manuel Figueroa, 45; Rogelio Barragan-Tello, 41; Lourdes Barragan, 40, and Ramiro Ocegueda-Garcia, 53.

Three suspects' names were not immediately released.

Specific charges filed against them were not immediately reported, but authorities said nine of the suspects were illegal immigrants from Mexico and two were U.S. residents.

None of the suspects was employed by a government agency.

During the four-month probe, authorities uncovered "document mills" being operated in an apartment and six houses within blocks of each other in South Los Angeles, said Kevin Jeffery, acting special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations in Los Angeles.

The "mills" produced fake Social Security cards, California driver's licenses, green cards and vehicle pink slips, Jeffery said.

Given their close proximity to each other, authorities believe the document mills may have operated under a single "kingpin" who may have financed the operation, Jeffery said.

"This isn't just a mom and pop type of thing helping out illegal immigrants get work," Jeffery said. "This is much bigger and its a growing problem."

The manufacturers allegedly sold the fraudulent documents for $100 to $150 per "set," typically a driver's license, a Social Security card and immigrant documentation, Jeffery said.

It is unknown how many documents were created because authorities are still sorting through evidence, Jeffery said, but it appeared that the mills appeared to have operated for at least eight months.

The suspects allegedly took photos of their customers, then crafted the fake documents on computers within an hour, Jeffery said. Computer software to forge identification documents can be purchased at many office supply stores.

"All you need is the system, a paper cutter or scissors and some paper, and you're in business," Jeffery said. "The cards are very good, and we've had instances where real Social Security numbers were being used."

Jeffery warned that some people may find themselves as victims of identity theft because document mills often use real names and serial numbers when creating the fraudulent documents. It was unclear how the information was obtained.

"We have identified counterfeit documents as a major vulnerability in Los Angeles," Jeffery said. "L.A. has been know for years as the counterfeit document and counterfeit money capital of America."

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