Oct 20, 2008 11:20 pm US/Pacific
Homeland Security Makes Local Bust For Fake IDs
Reporting
Ron Jones
FAIRFIELD (CBS13) ―
Homeland Security agents arrested a local man accused of helping illegal immigrants get jobs by selling them fake IDs.
According to a federal criminal complaint obtained by CBS13, Granados Ibanez manufactured and sold fake state and federal IDs for profit to illegal immigrants. Authorities descended onto the neighborhood on Calders Place in Fairfield to arrest him.
"I just saw a bunch of cops parked," said neighbor Larry Avila. "This whole street was filled with Suburbans, filled with undercovers and stuff."
Ibanez, an illegal immigrant himself, may have created phony driver's licenses, social security cards and immigration papers for hundreds of dollars each, according to federal authorities.
The feds were tipped off and set up a sting with their own undercover officers to make purchases from Ibanez, meeting him in a Wal-Mart parking lot. At one point, Ibanez reportedly became suspicious and asked the undercover officer if he was the police.
The officer laughed it off and said, "nah."
Neighbors said they were glad to see Homeland Security in their neighborhood.
"This is where my mother lives and I want her to be safe," said neighbor Rose Mote.
The Department of Motor Vehicles said that counterfeiting identification is a big business, and hope more residents will report the crime.
Ibanez could face deportation if convicted.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments