April 19, 2007

Indictment handed down in document manufacturing ring based in Cobb Co.
Eight defendants charged in fraudulent identification conspiracy

ATLANTA - Following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Ricardo Quinones Cruz, 33, Allen Carmona, 21, Juan Castillo, 36, Enrique Cristobal Martinez, 34, Ivan Raul Garcia, 40, Manuel Dozano Ortiz, 28, Cindy Salinas, 19, and, Armando Nunezbriseno, 29, all of Cobb County, Georgia, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to possess fraudulent identification documents, including Social Security cards, immigration documents, state driver’s licenses and identification cards, and to encourage and induce aliens to reside illegally in the United States. SALINAS was arraigned late today and granted $25,000 bond, while the other defendants are expected to be arraigned next week.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “Working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, we are committed to halting production of fraudulent documents which allow individuals to remain in the country illegally and to obtain fake identities which can be used to perpetrate other crimes.”

Mr. Nahmias noted that this case was brought to federal attention by the Cobb County Police Department, who conducted surveillance of the document-manufacturing ring and made some undercover purchases of fraudulent documents. “State and local law enforcement often detect identification fraud first and are a vital partner in detecting and prosecuting document fraud.”

ICE Special Agent In Charge Kenneth Smith said, “ICE commends the Cobb County Police Department for its outstanding investigatory work. This case is a prime example of how coordinated efforts between local law enforcement and ICE's Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces can help combat criminal organizations promoting illegal activity. These indictments demonstrate ICE's commitment to thwarting identity theft and benefit fraud. Fraudulent identification can be a preferred tool for criminal and terror networks to carry out their schemes. By targeting the people, money and materials that support these illicit networks, ICE's Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force is putting these organizations out of business and increasing the overall security of residents in Georgia.”

-- ICE --