Thread: S.C.: Cocaine seizure exposes fake ID ring

Cocaine seizure exposes fake ID ring

By John Monk · The Herald - Updated 05/14/07 - 12:00 AM
The Lexington County seizure in January of 11 pounds of cocaine from illegal Mexican aliens has led to the discovery of a fake Social Security card and identity theft operation, authorities say.
About 20 members and associates of a Lexington County Mexican family, many illegally in the United States, have been linked so far to the fake Social Security numbers operation, according to federal charges.

The case is believed to be the biggest S.C. investigation to combine drug smuggling, illegal aliens from Mexico and fake identities, federal authorities said.

The suspects are believed to have made more than $1 million with their cocaine profits and used some of the money to buy two Gaston-area properties, one a 1.5-acre tract, according to a federal indictment.

S.C. DEA chief John Ozaluk said the investigation is ongoing.

"You do a drug investigation, and to some extent, it's an identity investigation, too," Ozaluk said.

Indictments in the current case allege illegal immigrantsillegals used fake Social Security numbers and wage statements in a variety of ways. They got jobs at Rea Contracting and Amick Processing, a chicken packing plant in Saluda County near Batesburg-Leesville, one of the Midlands' major employers. Amick's has some 1,500 workers, many of whom are Hispanic.

The immigrants also used the numbers to sign up for power with S.C. Electric & Gas Co., register with the S.C. Employment Security Commission, apply for leases and buy a Cadillac, according to charges in U.S. District Court.

http://www.heraldonline.com/109/story/25184.html

Indictments in the current case allege illegal immigrantsillegals used fake Social Security numbers and wage statements in a variety of ways. They got jobs at Rea Contracting and Amick Processing, a chicken packing plant in Saluda County near Batesburg-Leesville, one of the Midlands' major employers. Amick's has some 1,500 workers, many of whom are Hispanic.

The immigrants also used the numbers to sign up for power with S.C. Electric & Gas Co., register with the S.C. Employment Security Commission, apply for leases and buy a Cadillac, according to charges in U.S. District Court.

They were certainly a busy bunch.

This one seems to have more info.
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Drug bust uncovers fake ID operation
Illegal immigrants were counterfeiting Social Security cards, according to federal charges
JOHN MONK
(Raleigh) News & Observer

The Lexington County seizure in January of 11 pounds of cocaine from illegal Mexican immigrants has led to the discovery of a fake Social Security card and identity theft operation, authorities say.

About 20 members and associates of a Lexington County Mexican family, many illegally in the United States, have been linked so far to the fake Social Security numbers operation, according to federal charges and testimony in federal court.

The case is believed to be the biggest S.C. investigation to combine drug smuggling, illegal immigrants from Mexico and fake identities, federal authorities said.

It also is an example of how easy it is to use fake and counterfeit Social Security cards and numbers in the United States and the Columbia area, said U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd, whose office is prosecuting the cases.

“If documents look authentic, employers take them and process them,â€