Illegal immigrants having fake IDs detained by PMO
Submitted by: MCLB Barstow
Story Identification #: 20051020125423
Story by Pfc. Quentin Grogan



MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2005) -- Lance Cpl. Joseph Alvarez, Provost Marshals Office gate sentry, intercepted four illegal immigrants attempting to come aboard MCLB Barstow to work for a civilian contracting company Oct 12.

Alvarez was conducting a routine inspection of the vehicle and passengers, and noticed the van did not have Department of Defense decals or markings.

While inspecting the passengers' identification cards, Alvarez noticed the cards had a different color, a lower print quality than California issued identification cards and the text sizes were not the same, he said.

After noticing these differences, Alvarez asked the driver to pull over to the side of the road, and a more detailed search was conducted. He ran the California ID card number through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, or CLETS, which is a shared database between the state and the law enforcement agencies, said Cpl. Rhett Brohas, PMO desk sergeant.

"When I checked the male's ID card number, it identified a female, but the card had a male picture on it," Alvarez said.
Alvarez ran the passengers' ID cards through the system and four of the five cards turned out to be illegal copies. The ID cards came up on the CLETS system registered to other individuals or not registered at all, said Alvarez.

During the search, Alvarez also found a counterfeit social security card, two more forged ID cards and three false green cards.

After inspecting the passengers, Alvarez took the suspects to the Provost Marshals Office. The suspects were handed over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for further action.

This was not the first time this type of incident has occurred, Alvarez said.

In Nov. 2004 he came across another counterfeit ID card. The driver provided a legitimate drivers license, while the passenger had a phony ID card. Alvarez once again checked the ID number and the search revealed a different name.

"It is a very rare occurrence that something like this happens," said Sgt. Anthony Hernandez, PMO watch commander.


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