Thread: CO- Illegal Immigrants targeted in ID scam won't face charge

Boulder police say illegal immigrants targeted in ID scam won't face charges

By Jordan Steffen
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/12/2011 01:00:00 AM MST


Fifteen undocumented immigrants will not be charged for trying to obtain illegal driver's licenses, but the individuals who promised the documents in exchange for cash will likely face felony charges.

Boulder police arrested one woman earlier this year and are looking for three other people who allegedly posed as employees of the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles and promised to provide real driver's licenses for $1,000 each, said Rob Bustrum, a spokesman for the Boulder Police Department.

On two occasions, the suspects took thousands of dollars from the victims but never delivered the licenses.

Detectives have identified 15 victims from Boulder and Denver. They believe there may be more victims, but the fear of prosecution may be stopping them from coming forward.

"We will not press charges against the victims," Bustrum said. He also said that the department would not alert immigration authorities to the identity of those who file complaints.

Attempting to obtain an illegal driver's license could result in charges from identity theft to attempted forgery, but none of those charges would amount to the felonies the suspects face, Bustrum said.

On May 2 and Nov. 3, undocumented immigrants met some of the suspects at a Boulder home and gave them cash for the licenses.

Investigators do not know how the suspects were targeting the victims.

On May 31, police arrested Jocelyn Vega-Arambula, 19, for her alleged role in the scam that took place in May. She faces charges of theft, conspiracy and impersonating a public servant.

Following Vega-Arambula's arrest, detectives learned of two additional suspects who allegedly helped her with the scams.

Arrest warrants have been issued for 23-year-old Ivan Francisco Sevilla-Morales and 24- year-old Enrique Pinzon-Garcia.

Sevilla-Morales is a transsexual who also goes by "Jessica" and "Francisco." She is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Pinzon-Garcia is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He also goes by "Kiki" and "Quique."

Both Sevilla-Morales and Pinzon-Garcia were allegedly involved in the Nov. 3 scam and face possible charges of felony theft and conspiracy. Pinzon- Garcia faces an additional charge of identity theft after he allegedly used a fake Social Security number at his workplace.

In the Nov. 3 scam, another man, identified only as Raul or Eric, allegedly posed as a DMV employee.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19319766

"We will not press charges against the victims," Bustrum said. He also said that the department would not alert immigration authorities to the identity of those who file complaints.

They are NOT victims. They were attempting to buy fraudulent documents.

Next they'll offer a special "victim visa" is my guess.