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Tucson Region 11 arrested, 'good fake IDs' seized after fraud investigation By Daniel Scarpinato Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.23.2006 Eleven people were arrested in Tucson on Thursday as part of a identification fraud bust in six locations across the city. The suspects are being charged with crimes ranging from fraud to forgery. They were arrested following a month-and-a-half investigation in which state and local officials worked undercover to buy items like passports, drivers licenses, Social Security cards and birth certificates. Those items were manufactured with the intent to be used by human and drug traffickers, officials said. At a press conference here, Gov. Janet Napolitano drew a connection between the bust and efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and boost border security. It wasn't yet known Thursday whether the manufacturers were working in conjunction with each other, but collectively, officials confiscated $5,000 in cash. Napolitano hailed the bust as a coordinated effort involving a dozen agencies, and the first accomplishment in Southern Arizona by a fraudulent-identification task force set up last year. "This is an ongoing effort and a great complement to the Border Patrol's efforts," she said after the press conference. Law-enforcement officials hadn't had time to determined how many items were seized, how long the manufacturers had been operating or how foolproof the fake documents were, but Leesa Berens Morrison, director of the fraud task force, said "these are good fake IDs." The suspects used regular household scanners and personal computers to forge the documents, she said. The Social Security cards and driver's licenses ran about $60 apiece. Berens Morrison wouldn't say how the investigation originated, but said officers spent weeks posing as undocumented workers and purchased about 30 different items. More than 75 officers were involved, and those working undercover would normal do so in groups of about three to four, Berens Morrison said. The items were manufactured at six Tucson locations, mostly trailer parks and apartment complexes. The largest bust was at Off Broadway Apartments, 20 N. Leonora Ave. The names of those arrested are: Jose Angel Diaz Quintero, Leticia Villa Origel, Veronica Obregon Rojas, Ernesto Ayala Escobar, Juan Antonio Garcia Armenta, Jose Salvador Davila, Maria Jesus Palafox Olea, Martin Ramon Barcelo, Manuel Calderon and Guadalupe Avelar. One minor was arrested, but officials are not releasing that name. About 30 Tucson Police Department officers were involved in the early-morning arrests Thursday, said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a department spokesman. So far this year, the fraud task force has executed 57 search warrants, led to 98 people being charged, seized $1.35 million in cash and property and confiscated 714 fraudulent documents, according to a press release from the governor's office. Individuals with information about false documents can call 1-866-X-FAKE-ID (1-866-932-5343). Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 807-7789 or dscarpinato@azstarnet.com. Jun 23, 4:15 AM EDT 11 people arrested in identification fraud bust around Tucson TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Eleven people were arrested as part of an identification fraud bust in six locations across the city. Authorities said the suspects were charged Thursday with crimes ranging from fraud to forgery. They were arrested following a month-and-a-half investigation in which state and local officials worked undercover to buy items like passports, drivers licenses, Social Security cards and birth certificates. Those items were manufactured with the intent to be used by human and drug traffickers, officials said. They said the suspects used regular household scanners and personal computers to forge the documents. Gov. Janet Napolitano hailed the bust as a coordinated effort involving a dozen agencies, and the first accomplishment in Southern Arizona by a fraudulent-identification task force set up last year. |