The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Authorities say they have uncovered another so-called document mill that was producing hundreds of bogus identifications, Social Security cards and green cards enabling illegal immigrants to live and work here.
Three suspects charged with operating the ring appeared in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon. A magistrate judge ordered them detained pending grand jury action.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents used confidential informants to infiltrate the ring and record conversations implicating the suspects in the production and sale of the phony documents, according to a court affidavit filed by an ICE agent.
One suspect worked out of a house on Galveston Boulevard near Wards Corner in Norfolk.
The three suspects each admitted to federal agents to producing and selling phony work and identification documents, generally for $150 per set, according to the affidavit filed by ICE special agent Kevin Hogancamp.
A search of computers and storage drives indicated that hundreds of documents had been produced and sold, the affidavit says.
The suspects - Patrocinio Castro-Quijano, Gerardo Ortega-Cortes and Onofre Dela Cruz-Vite - acknowledged to authorities that each is in the country illegally, the affidavit says.
Mike Netherland, special agent in charge of the Norfolk ICE office, said these kinds of phony documents are essential for illegal immigrants to move freely in the community. The documents are generally authentic looking, making them difficult for law enforcement and employers to realize they are fake.
The primary concern, he added, is national security.
"Anytime you have individuals producing documents that would be of interest to ICE," he said, "obviously it is something of a concern with us."
Last year, ICE agents arrested several other document producers, a lso using undercover informants.
Ricardo Reyes-Garcia and his partner, Carlomagno Garcia-Diaz, pleaded guilty to charges related to the sale of phony immigration documents. They also operated out of Norfolk, along Little Creek Road, as well as in the South Boston area of Virginia.
Another man was arrested and convicted of producing phony documents on the Peninsula.
In the current case, an informant acting as a broker recorded a sale of phony documents at a Norfolk home involving Dela Cruz-Vite, according to Hogancamp's affidavit. When the buyer got into a vehicle with four others and drove off, the agents stopped them and took all five into custody. They were all determined to be here illegally and will be deported.
That led to the purchase of more documents by the informant in January.
Last Wednesday, the agents raided a house at an unidentified location in Norfolk and arrested the three suspects. One of the agents who had gone around back saw a Christmas stocking fly out a window. Inside, the agent found a computer thumb drive that contained 75 to 100 images of phony green cards, Social Security cards and driver's licenses, with a different image on each.
Computer equipment found inside the house was set up to produce untold numbers of phony documents. One suspect admitted to the agents to selling 35 to 40 of sets of counterfeit documents, the affidavit says.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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Mr. McGlone.....
....Please do not forget about this story......let us know how many and who are going to prison, etc. for this crime. It does no good to just report it to the public. Unless someone has to pay a price for this illegal activity then it will continue. And ...I am not saying prison is the answer. Let's be creative Mr. Circuit Court Judge, how about sentencing the perpetrators (especially if they are American citizens) to having to leave the country with the illegals they made documents for and have to stay out of the country for at least five years.(Banished from the tribe, if you will.) I think when they are allowed to come back from living in the poverty of the Americas south of the border they will have a different perspective.
Don't Waste Time/ Money On Illegals. Make That Their Cost
"The suspects - Patrocinio Castro-Quijano, Gerardo Ortega-Cortes and Onofre Dela Cruz-Vite - acknowledged to authorities that each is in the country illegally, the affidavit says" That states their status clearly. As I said below, if they are known illegals, then don't waste our resources putting them through the already clogged legal system. They aren't citizen or legal immigrants. They aren't entitled to ther 'day in court'. Don't bother listening. We have a legal way of entry which I happily encourage to anyone wanting to live here. But these people chose not to do so and slipped under yet another fence, this time one which is touted as a 'threat to our national security'. Kick them out and be done with it. Sell their stuff and take their last paycheck to pay for the plane ticket to wherever they are from. Make it widely known that will be the immediate consequence and -enforce- it vigorously in 24 hours. Photograph and fingerprint them and deny legal entry later. They lost their chance. Period. Money saved, illegals out.
illegal immigrants
Our GOVERNMENT has NOONE to BLAME but THEMSELVES for the problems we have with illegal immigrants. Over the last few years one has to speak spanish in order to get a job to cater to the large overflow of immigrants. they allow them into the united states and when the population gets out of hand it's then a problem. Why do "WE" as AMERICANS have to speak a different langauge to work in our country? Part of economy problem lies with immigrants, the money they make here is sent home to their country not used or put back into ours. They are allowed to house 10 to 15 per house that should only occupy a family of 4, but let a true american down on there luck do that and there is trouble. Instead of catering to immigrants needs and wants, maybe the government can cater to their own and americans would stop losing their homes and jobs, why speak spanish if you cant speak american then we shouldnt do business with you. your country is not required to convert to our language so why should we convert to yours.
You and all below........
....make fine points and I agree with most all of them. Let me add a little something to the mix. Regarding language and the rise of the "______"-Americans decrying the demand to speak their language. Whom ever you might be and whatever language you might speak, you came to America because it was a better place to live with better opportunities. Did you ever stop to think that the language of the conquerors that you speak and the religion that they forced upon your ancestors might be the reason you were in the monetary/liberty/intellectual poverty where you were? For example: name a Spanish speaking-Catholic country where they have the same rights and opportunities we have in America? Spain maybe?? Nope, dictatorship. Pick any other combination of language/religion--I think you see my point. Make a change and be proud of who you are; make it American-"______" instead. Put America first in all things, the founders did and look where we are now in contrast to the rest of the world. Putting America second in is what causes our problems.
deport
deport deport deport
Wow the INS comes to Tidewater
Everytime a congressman or senator tells me they are creating jobs in Virginia. I believe it! I see all of these immigrants working on the highways, in the restaurants, and hotels. I have a nearby neighbor that houses almost 10-15 immigrants in a two bedroom house. I see the trailer parks being overtaken by immigrants. Are they legal? I have no idea, but these are the folks getting the jobs that our government is creating. And, with the help of DMV and ex-DMV employees the illegals are getting IDs to take these jobs. Some say they are only doing the work that Americans dont want wants. I say Bull? When a legal citizen works for a living, they have to pay federal and state taxes, they have to pay personal property for the state of virginia and when I last checked as long as they are working they need to pay their own medical. So that $5/hr that the immigrant works equates to $2/hr for a legal citizen. The person(s) that were creating the ID cards need to go to GTMO for a few decades to set an example for others. Let's see if the INS can make it happen.
Landscapers?
I guess they use the fake SSN cards so they can get a job landscaping and have the boss learn Spanish......something is wrong here....
Thank you!
After spending 20 years in the military it occured to me that while I was trotting the globe spreading "democracy" (war), the real war was here. An estimated 12 to 20 million illegal aliens is not "a small hardworking group of people forced to live in the shadows", it's an invasion. I feel like I've let my country down. The Constitution is written in English, I suggest people come here legally, and learn how to read it. We do not need law breakers coming here, we have enough already. The Industrial Revolution is a hundred years in the past, we do not need millions of people coming here to build railroads and highways and sky-scrapers anymore, that talent pool already exists. I do not see scientists or doctors sneaking across the borders; people who can make a positive impact. Pretty soon we will have more landscapers and sheetrock hangers than there are lawns and houses to keep them busy. What then? Will we have a whole catagory of "jobs that illegals won't do" because it doesn't pay enough, so we have to let even MORE in who WILL work for less?
Checks and balances
I thought the SSA sent a letter to the employer when there was a mismatch between a persons name and SSN. Isn't that employer supposed to re-verify the information and report back to the SSA? So what I want to know is which local businesses hired these folks.
Yes
I too want to know who these businesses are so I can avoid doing business with them.