Feds bust sprawling Richmond-based fake document ring

Federal investigators have uncovered numerous “document production cells” which churned out countless counterfeited green cards, Social Security cards and other documents for illegal aliens across the country.

The indictment alleges that the ring was based in Richmond and sold the fake documents in Manassas and the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. The criminal enterprise also operated in Arkansas, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Indiana, Kentucky and Rhode Island.

The multi-state operation was allegedly headed by Israel Cruz Millan, 25, an illegal alien who goes by the name “El Muerto,” Spanish for “the dead one.”

On Thursday, Millan and 16 others were arraigned in Richmond before U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer. In all, arrest warrants for 30 individuals have been issued, many of whom are in the country illegally.

So far, 25 of the fugitives have been arrested. Each of the defendants is charged either with conspiracy to produce and transfer false identification documents, involvement in a money-laundering conspiracy, or both.

Officials say that in Richmond on May 28, one of those arrested, delivered counterfeit Resident Alien (green card) and Social Security cards to an informant for a fee of $200 only one day after the source provided his or her photograph and information.

Western Union wire transfers were the preferred way of moving profits around.

Nearly all of the defendants speak only Spanish and translators will be needed throughout their trials.

In January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested three men in Norfolk, for   producing phony identification documents for illegal aliens. The document mill was being run in a house on Galveston Avenue, in the Wards Corner section of the city, an area which in recent years has seen a large influx of illegal aliens.

The men, Patrocinio Castro-Quijano, Gerardo Ortega-Cortes and Onofre Dela Cruz-Vite are all in the country illegally. According to ICE special agent Kevin Hogancamp, all three of the suspects admitted to producing the fake documents, selling them for $150 each.

Investigators determined that the group produced hundreds of green cards as well as Social Security cards.

In 2009, a similar document ring was discovered operating in Norfolk as well.

Despite pleas from the public, Norfolk officials continue to ignore the issue of illegal immigration, even in the face of increasing crime attributed to the city’s growing illegal alien population.

Over their citizens’ objections, the Norfolk City Council has refused to adopt the highly affective 287(g) program. The agreement between federal and municipal authorities allows local law enforcement to investigate a suspect’s immigration status after an arrest has been made for any offense.

Since 2006, more than 1,000 law-enforcement officers have been trained and certified by the federal program. Currently, 77 local police departments participate in 287(g). Both Virginia and North Carolina lead the country in the number of local departments participating.

 

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