Two Sacramento Men Accused Of Running Counterfeit Document Operation
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Two Sacramento men are accused of operating a counterfeit operation where they sold green cards, California identification cards, driver's licenses and other documents.
State Department of Justice agents arrested Laurel Velasquez, 30, and Pedro Izehuatl, 45, on Wednesday after a four-month investigation by its eCrime Unit and Special Crimes Unit.
Each is charged with 14 counts of forgery or counterfeiting of government identification cards and conspiracy. The two operated in a counterfeit identification ring that sold federal immigration documents (green cards), California identification cards and driver's licenses, Social Security cards and passports.
During the undercover operation, Velasquez and Izehuatl sold undercover special agents dozens of counterfeit green cards, driver's license and a Social Security card for $100 each.
The counterfeit green cards purchased were for individuals purported to be from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Russia and China, the DOJ said.
Agents served search warrants on the suspects' residences on Wednesday and found sophisticated equipment used to create counterfeit identity documents. Velasquez and Izehuatl were booked into the Sacramento County Jail. They're scheduled to be arraigned in Sacramento County Superior Court on Monday.
