Posted on 11/27/2008 3:22:57 PM PST by BGHater
It starts with two simple words - "El Tio" or "The Uncle" in English. It's the password that opens the door to a new identity.
After receiving a tip from a viewer, CBS 11 News went undercover in Northwest Dallas, along Harry Hines Boulevard to document an elaborate fake ID ring.
We sent a CBS 11 employee, undercover, to the location. He asked about getting a Texas ID card and was directed to "El Tio." The employee was then taken across the street to a boot store to have his picture taken. He handed over $20 as an up front payment.
We showed the hidden camera footage to Trooper Lonny Haschel, with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the same agency that issues Texas drivers' licenses and ID cards. Haschel said, "It's unfortunate that folks feel they have to go this route. Anytime anyone can obtain a driver's license or ID card without any documentation, that's definitely an issue."
Our undercover employee never provided any documentation to prove his identity. After leaving the $20 upfront payment, he was told to come back with a final payment of $80. An hour later, he returned and was handed a brand new Texas identification card.
Trooper Haschel wondered "What kind of numbers are they using? Are they using your date of birth or your driver's license number or did they just make one up?"
Five days after our first undercover buy, we sent a second buyer to the supermarket. He was joined by our first buyer who posed as his friend. Once again, the deal began with the words "El Tio," followed by money up front and then a photo. An hour later, our second buyer had a fake ID. This time, he purchased a Texas driver's license which cost a little more at a $120.
After seeing the hidden camera video of the second undercover purchase, Trooper Haschel remarked, "What we need to do, is take a look at this case a little further."
CBS 11 decided to do just that. We set up a third buy with yet another undercover employee. The routine was similar and the outcome was once again successful.
Buying a fake card is one thing, but can the ID's pass as real? Take a look at these two ID's. One is a real state driver's license and one is fake. Can you tell the difference? Finish reading the article and find at the answer at the bottom.
The fake cards include the state capitol, the Texas flag, a signature and even a hologram which is the same details found on a legitimate ID. The Department of Public Safety says it's impressed with the quality, which raises concerns about illegal immigration, underage drinking, and even terrorism.
CBS 11 News learned that several people are apparently tied to the illegal operation and there's no telling how long it's been up and running.
As we left Trooper Haschel he had a reminder for anyone participating in the making or use of fake ID's, "If you get into a felony situation, you're going to be doing jail time."
Okay, ready? Of the two ID's featured above, the one on top is fake. The ID for Esequiel Ayala is counterfeit.
Hola !
This crime is punishable by death isn’t it?
do they make COLBs?
Forget the Trooper Haschel it sounds like this should be in the hands of the DA.... Trooper Haschel doesn’t sound too interested in the activity or thats the way the article reads to me.
Well, I hope they also registered them to vote while they were at it...................
It doesn’t sound like the Texas police are even going to do anything when they’ve been handed the evidence on a platter. Why isn’t the distribution and use of a false identity in itself a felony? I’ve seen more government action when a teenager tries to buy beer underage than this.
IIRC, poseession of counterfeit IDs is not actually a crime in Texas (someone should go check that). It’s when you actually try to use it for fraudulent or illegal purposes that it becomes a crime.
Well, I hope they also registered them to vote while they were at it...................
U know da dit!!
I had a friend from high school busted a few years after graduation for running a fake ID ring. He had gotten an employee to actually steal blanks and a camera from a storage room.
He’d sold over 1,000 by the time he was caught.
“He’d sold over 1,000 by the time he was caught.”
Many years ago, before photo ID, I was working as an computer operator for the State of Tennessee. Someone was stealing blank licenses so the TBI came to investigate. They dusted the licenses with a powder that glowed under ultraviolet light and then cleverly waited to spring their trap. They came sliding in on the 3rd shift and grabbed us all and hustled us into a room where they proceeded to check us with the light. Everyone lit up like a Christmas tree because the dust generated by the printers coated everything in the print room and all of us! Back to the drawing board Sherlock.
Section 37, section 10 of the Texas Penal Code seems to indicate the possession in of itself is unlawful. See {6} below...........
§ 37.10. TAMPERING WITH GOVERNMENTAL RECORD. (a) A person commits an offense if he:
(1) knowingly makes a false entry in, or false alteration of, a governmental record;
(2) makes, presents, or uses any record, document, or thing with knowledge of its falsity and with intent that it be taken as a genuine governmental record;
(3) intentionally destroys, conceals, removes, or otherwise impairs the verity, legibility, or availability of a governmental record;
(4) possesses, sells, or offers to sell a governmental record or a blank governmental record form with intent that it be used unlawfully;
(5) makes, presents, or uses a governmental record with knowledge of its falsity; or
(6) possesses, sells, or offers to sell a governmental record or a blank governmental record form with knowledge that it was obtained unlawfully.
.......
http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/pe.toc.htm
....
There is more to this section than I”ve posted above......
In any case the DA or someone should be on this ring as it seems the Trooper wasn’t that interested.
Based on the numbers of the 2008 election, the American voting population has hit critical mass ...... in that the third world forces have combined with home-grown anti-capitalistic forces and NOW have majority control of our political system.
And they will only get stronger and stronger due to the fact that they can simply pass laws to open our system to even MORE third world corruption.
And the dummy GOP/McCain wing is still pandering with Amnesty, which will only swing open the doors to millions more third world Latin (and other) illegals.
McCain and other "leaders" will hide behind their gated communities while the rest of the people, whether Republican or not, will be left fending off lower wages, more crime, and a two-language system which will destroy this once great Judeo-Christian EUROCENTRIC country.
If the illegals can do it, we better keep a real close eye on ACORN & the Democratic party. Here in Texas all it takes to vote is a state issued I.D. or a Drivers license.....
El Tio should contract out to California DMV as an ‘Express Lane’ service considering his speed.
Anyone else have a problem with this? Are we teaching the illegals how to get a legit id?
Does CBS realize that these are potential Obama supporters who ACORN will have registered to vote by 2012? Has CBS forgotten whose side it’s on?
Really.
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