3 linked to illegal documents conspiracy in Tulare



9:00 PM, Apr. 21, 2011 |
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LUIS HERNANDEZ


Three men who conspired to produce and sell false immigration documents in Tulare were indicted Thursday and are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court today, authorities said.

Ruben Gonzalez Gonzalez, 44, Margarito Zavala Barrera, 32, and Noel Fernando Canales Amador, 28, face charges of conspiracy and possession, transportation, production and sale of fraudulent immigration documents.

Zavala is also charged with being a previously deported alien found in the United States. Gonzalez and Zavala are from Mexico, while Canales is a Honduran national. The three men will appear in Fresno before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto.

According to court documents, between Dec. 21 and April 6, Gonzalez met customers in a public location in Tulare, took their pictures and collected biographical information. He then contacted Zavala or Canales, who produced the requested documents. Gonzalez then sold the completed documents to the customers.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

"Anyone who knowingly and indiscriminately sells phony identity cards is putting the security of our communities and even our country at risk," said Paul Leonardi, resident agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Fresno. "Counterfeit documents can potentially be used by dangerous criminals and others who are attempting to obscure their identities and cover their tracks."

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