Three men accused of creating and selling fake Social Security and resident alien cards have been indicted on an assortment of felony charges.
Oscar Daniel Miquer, 27, Jose Barraza-Aguilar, 27, and Jaime Tello-Rios, 23, were arrested last week by the Arizona Counter Terrorism Task Force, said assistant Arizona Attorney General John Evans.
The task force received tips that the men were creating forms of identification for other illegal entrants and selling them for $50 apiece, Evans said.
An investigation revealed the men used a computer, printer and laminating machine to produce the documents, which bore fake names, but real Social Security numbers, Evans said.
A Pima County grand jury indicted the men Tuesday on 16 counts, including illegally conducting an enterprise, trafficking in the identity of another person and forgery.
People are also reading…
For those familiar with the legitimate cards, it was clear the cards were fake, but you wouldn't know they were forged if you weren't familiar with them, Evans said.
"The price for these in Tucson is about half the price they're getting in Phoenix, which tells me there are a lot of people doing it down here because there is so much competition and it's easy to get into," Evans said.
The task force arrested three other men a couple of months ago on similar charges, Evans said. Those men have already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Illegally conducting an enterprise carries a prison sentence of between two and 8.75 years, Evans said. Forgery is punishable by between one and 3.75 years and taking the identity of another carries a prison sentence of between three and 12.5 years.
"The price for these in Tucson is about half the price they're getting in Phoenix, which tells me there are a lot of people doing it down here because there is so much competition and it's easy to get into."
John Evans
Assistant Arizona attorney general
