Thread: Chgo. Alderman father charged

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/4063 ... 07.article


Alderman's father charged in false ID documents case

May 29, 2007
A city alderman's father who operates a discount mall photo studio was charged Tuesday in connection with an alleged multi-million-dollar counterfeit ring that authorities say produced thousands of fake identification documents a year.

Elias Munoz, 62, operates Nuevo Foto Munoz at a discount mall in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, where armed federal agents conducted a daytime raid last month resulting in charges against 22 other people accused of participating in a conspiracy to make fake documents.

Federal prosecutors Tuesday charged Munoz with conspiracy to produce false identification documents and aiding and abetting. A criminal complaint alleges Munoz and employees at his studio took photographs and supplied order forms for thousands of fake identification documents over a period of at least 31/2 years.

Munoz's attorney, Mary Rowland, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Tuesday evening.

Elias Munoz is the father of Chicago Alderman Ricardo Munoz, who did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the charges.

The complaint alleges that Elias Munoz's shop was central to many of the alleged ring's transactions for the fake documents, including Social Security cards and bogus driver's licenses from Michigan, Wisconsin, New York and Iowa.

After the April 24 investigation at the mall in the largely Mexican Little Village neighborhood, a search warrant was issued for four locations, including Munoz's store.

According to the complaint, agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies seized thousands of fake blank documents including Illinois and U.S. resident identification cards at Munoz's studio. Authorities said they also seized a display, written in both Spanish and English, advertising the types of cards available.

If convicted, Munoz could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Authorities have said the fraudulent-document organization, believed to have netted between $2 million and $3 million annually, allegedly started in Mexico and is thought to be active in Los Angeles and Denver.

AP

Yeah, one down and a million to go!!

Related story:

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=65807