Sacto 9-1-1

By Bee Staff

Four men are in custody facing federal criminal charges following the execution of search warrants Thursday at two Sacramento area residences that allegedly housed large-scale counterfeiting operations responsible for producing phony immigration and identity documents, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said today.

The counterfeiting operation was capable of producing fake "green cards," birth certificates and driver's licenses from California and five other states, according to the agency's news release.

During Thursday's searches, authorities seized a large cache of document-making equipment, including multiple computers, high quality printers, laminators, card stock, along with dozens of counterfeit documents, the release states. (A spokesman for the California Department of Motor Vehicles said that the newest version of California's driver's license was not being counterfeited as an earlier version of this story erroneously indicated. The DMV spokesman said the old version of the state driver's license was being produced by the suspects.)

The recovered documents included counterfeit versions of the latest generation of the Permanent Resident Card, often known as a "green card," a federal spokesman said.

The searches and arrests are the latest developments in a year-long ongoing undercover probe involving the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the release states. The investigation originated with a call to federal agency's toll-free tip line: (866) DHS-2ICE.

According to the search warrant affidavit, which describes several document buys by undercover agents, the suspects charged $120 for a single counterfeit card, or $250 for a "set" of phony documents. The "sets" typically included a "green card," Social Security card and a driver's license, the release states.

The transactions took place in the parking lots of businesses in south Sacramento, including The Home Depot and Hacienda Market, the release states.

When an undercover agent expressed interest in setting up his own document mill, the affidavit alleges one of the defendants told him that for $20,000 he could help him obtain the illegal software and training to create good quality counterfeits.

"Targeting those responsible for making and selling fraudulent documents is an enforcement priority for ICE Homeland Security Investigations," said Daniel Lane, assistant special agent in charge for the agency in Sacramento. "Anyone who knowingly and indiscriminately sells phony identity cards is putting the security of our communities and even our country at risk. Documents like this could potentially be used by dangerous criminals and others seeking to obscure their identities and mask their motives."

George Valverde, director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, said the security and privacy of DMV's customer database and the state's driver's license is a top priority for the department, the release states.

"The DMV will continue to do whatever is necessary to assist local, state and federal law enforcement entities in their efforts to assure the integrity of the license," Valverde said. "The California Driver License is now the primary identification document for our citizens, and the Department is absolutely dedicated to protecting it from the criminal element such as counterfeiters. Californians expect no less."

According to the release, arrested were:

- Javier Hernandez-Lopez, 39.

- Juan Hernandez-Lopez, 33, Javier's younger brother.

- Luis Eduardo Torres-Hernandez, 25.

- Alejandro Bielma-Ortiz, 40.

The suspects are all Mexican nationals who are in the United States illegally, the release states. They are charged with manufacturing false identity and immigration documents.

In addition to the criminal arrests, agents encountered two Mexican national males at one of the document mills who were taken into custody on administrative immigration violations, the release states.