Posted on 12/08/2005 6:12:11 AM PST by Calpernia
Twenty-one people allegedly supplied fake government documents to individuals throughout the United States while operating along a busy street in Queens described by the prosecutor as the East Coast ``epicenter'' of fraudulent documents.
District Attorney Richard Brown said Wednesday that the suspects had been indicted on charges they operated a $1 million-a-year criminal enterprise that included production of phony Social Security cards, driver's licenses and resident alien cards.
Four of the suspects remained at large; the others have been arraigned in the past few days and are being held without bail.
``What this shows is the vulnerability we have to terrorists,'' James McMahon, the director of the state Office of Homeland Security, said at a news conference.
``A terrorist could illegally enter this country and get a driver's license in anyone's name and become an instant person,'' said McMahon. ``Then they can get a car, open a bank account and fly on an airplane.''
Brown said the 19-month investigation, which also involved the NYPD, had virtually shut down the operation.
The fraudulent enterprise, Brown said, consisted of ``a boss, a cutter, runners and street sellers.'' Part of the operation was conducted at a local Chinese restaurant and the manufacturing of the phony documents was done at various locations throughout Jackson Heights. The documents were then sold on Roosevelt Avenue, ``the epicenter of such fraudulent activity on the East Coast,'' Brown said.
The 53-count enterprise corruption indictment charges the defendants on various counts including conspiring to acquire money illegally through the manufacture and sale of forged government identification documents.
Investigators used court-authorized wiretaps, video surveillance and thousands of intercepted telephone calls during their probe.
More than 5,000 forged documents were seized, including 700 driver's licenses and ID cards from 11 states and more than 2,400 Social Security cards. Numerous tools for creating the phony documents also were seized, including typewriters, paper cutters, laminators and embossed laminated sheets and photo scanners.
A typical street price for a fake Social Security card was $40 and a New York state driver's license was $50, Brown said.
The operation's alleged ringleader, Esteban Chaves, 33, who lived in Jackson Heights, apparently has fled to Mexico City, authorities said. His sister, Maricruz Chaves, 30, who they alleged was the acting boss, was in custody.
>>>>The operation's alleged ringleader, Esteban Chaves, 33, who lived in Jackson Heights, apparently has fled to Mexico City, authorities said. His sister, Maricruz Chaves, 30, who they alleged was the acting boss, was in custody.<<<<<
ping
Fake ID rings?
Are they trying to infiltrate Free Republic? I guess it's a good thing they were caught, but shouldn't they have arrested the people rather than the ring?
::rimshot::
They're back in business already:
>>>Law enforcement officials yesterday announced the dismantling of a major fake identity-document ring - exposed in The New York Sun on Monday. But hours after the press conference, dealers were back selling fake green cards and driver's licenses on the same Queens avenue that had been targeted in the bust.<<<
http://www.nysun.com/article/24127
Thanks. I check the ICE press releases when I'm back.
That's my old neighborhood.
The second floor pool hall mentioned is in the Victor Moore Arcade. You've probably seen it in the movie, "The Wrong Man" with Henry Fonda.
The area is a real bright spot on the multicultural map of Queens. It's good to see that 'Little India' and the 'Cocain Capital of the Universe' has opened its doors to our brothers from Mexico.
/s
That area has been a cesspool for decades.
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