Thread: AZ-Fake ID operation busted

Fake ID operation busted
October 1st, 2008 @ 11:48am
by Jayme West/KTAR

A fake ID manufacturing operation was uncovered in west-central Phoenix.

DPS says the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force, or AFIT, arrested two men, one Americo Bamaca, 19, of Guatemala and Jesus Monroy-Cruz, 44, of Mexico.

Inside an apartment near I-17 and Indian School Road, they found ID card makers, printers, scanners, software and computers.

They also seized more than 1,500 pieces of pre-printed ID card stock for various Mexican state driver's licenses and Arizona IDs and a laminating machine.

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=967554

Two men accused of providing false IDs to immigrants
October 1st, 2008 @ 1:14pm
by KTAR.com

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of providing fake identification items to illegal immigrants.

Americo Perez Bamaca, 19, and Jesus Cornelio Monroy-Cruz, 44, were taken into custody when authorities served a search warrant last Thursday at an apartment in west Phoenix, near 25th Avenue and Glenrosa. Bamaca is from Guatemala. Monroy-Cruz is a Mexican national.

During the search of the apartment, investigators discovered a fraudulent identification manufacturing location and seized three identification card makers in addition to printers, scanners, software, computers, and fraudulent documents ready for delivery. Other items seized included 1,500 pieces of pre-printed identification card stock for various Mexican state driver's licenses, 25 pre-printed pieces of Arizona identification card stock and a laminator.

Charges against the two include identity theft, manufacturing fraudulent IDs, forgery, trafficking in stolen property and conducting a criminal enterprise.

"These arrests continue to show the significance of the problem we're facing with those who try to profit from illegal immigration," said Roger Vanderpool, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. DPS, along with other members of the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force, conducted the two-week investigation that led to the arrests.

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=967631