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Nine arrested in phony ID sting
Sale of fake documents suspected

By Araceli Esparza
Staff Writer

EL MONTE -- Nine men were arrested Thursday in a police sting to expose sellers of fraudulent government documents in El Monte's Five Points area.
Of those, an employee from 1 Hour Photo 4 Less was arrested on suspicion of helping to produce the false records -- which included driver licenses, green cards, Social Security cards and other certificates.

Operation Fraud, as the El Monte Police Department sting operation was dubbed, was set up near Crawford's market, 11850 Valley Blvd., after complaints were made to city officials, police said.

"People are getting harassed ... it's an ongoing problem," said Detective Richard Luna. "This is a focus area in the city. They (sellers) can come here and know there could be someone who's going to buy their goods."

Detective Kurt Timkin said the documents are often used by customers to obtain public services and apply for credit cards and jobs.

"Driver's licenses and ID cards are the big-ticket items, as well as insurance cards," Timkin said.

Driver licenses may be purchased for up to $250, while sellers may charge about $120 for other reproduced documents, contingent on the quality requested.

"People reduce themselves to this because they come here and they can't get papers," said Blanca Rodriguez, 38, of La Puente, who saw the police make some arrests.

El Monte police have done these operations in the past, but Thursday's sting focused on making more arrests by using multiple police decoys.

A television news crew accompanying the sting got video footage showing several men signaling each other from distant locations after arrangements were made with the decoys.

At one point, one of the suspects lifted a patch of grass and hid documents and photos underneath it.

Officials found several items in the hole. They searched other areas around the store -- including within the grill of cars -- to find more evidence.

"They stash them just about everywhere -- anywhere they could stash them," Detective George Mendoza said.

Police units had to alter their initial plan and move in on the suspects when one of decoys was identified as a police officer by one of the men arrested.

Arrested on suspicion of manufacturing and sales of false documents, which could bring a felony charge, were: Antonio Sanchez, 27; Pablo Monroy, 70; Loreto Valdez, 43; Carlos Romero, 38; Humberto Flores, 37, all of El Monte, Luis Vargas, 27, of Los Angeles and Adelaido Ramirez, 38, of Rosemead.

Pedro Gonzalez, 44, of South El Monte was arrested on suspicion of delaying or obstructing an officer during the sting operation. And Daniel Hernandez, 24, of El Monte was arrested on suspicion of not having a driver license.

The latter counts are both misdemeanors, said Sgt. Dennis Demerjian, supervisor of the special investigations unit.

"Most of (the suspects) are undocumented and they're out here trying to make some money," said Demerjian.

Police said many people will be saved from the consequences of using false documents.

"Things could always go better, they never go perfect, but at least this stops the problem for a while," Demerjian said. "Some of them will (return), and some will probably learn their lesson and we won't see them anymore."

-- Araceli Esparza can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2303, or by e-mail at araceli.esparza@sgvn.com .