[quote]Alderman's father pleads guilty in fake ID case

July 8, 2008Recommend (11)

BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter
The father of Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd) pleaded guilty this afternoon to snapping photos used to make up fake IDs for illegal immigrants.

Elias Munoz, 63, of Bloomingdale, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with others to make and sell phony driver’s licenses and other identification out of his photo studio, Nuevo Photo Munoz at 3105 W. 26th Street. Prosecutors say he was part of a $3 million annual fake document operation.

Prosecutors said he operated his business out of the Little Village Discount mall since the early 1990s, often trying to recruit customers by calling out random passersby.

Ald. Munoz has said he is estranged from his father, who has six children ranging in age from 13 to 46. Upon learning of charges against his father last year, Ald. Munoz stated: “Adults need to be held accountable for what they do.â€