Vietnamese Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Credit Card Fraud Conspiracy

Tri Tran, aka Tony, 35, a citizen of Vietnam unlawfully in the country and residing in Maryland, pleaded guilty Friday, February 1, 2013, to mail fraud in connection with a scheme to skim credit card account data and re-encode the data onto different credit cards used to buy merchandise at retail stores. As a result of the scheme, more than 50 victims incurred losses totaling more than $70,000.

The guilty plea follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; U.S. Secret Service, Baltimore Field Office; Harford County Sheriff's Office and the assistance of the Harford County State's Attorney Office.

According to his plea, beginning in 2009 through Feb. 28, 2011, co-conspirator Nghia Nguyen, 35, a Vietnamese citizen residing in Santa Ana, Calif., mailed an electronic skimming device to Tran in Maryland, who used the device at the business where he was employed to access data from customer credit cards. During 2009, Tran mailed Nguyen the skimming device approximately twice a month, typically when the data of five to 15 credit cards were stored on the skimmer. This pace picked up slightly in 2010 and in 2011 there were about four or five exchanges prior to his arrest. Tran would also mail several credit cards bearing his name to Nguyen.

Nguyen would then extract the data from the skimmer and re-encode the magnetic strip of the other cards with the victims' data. Nguyen would then send Tran three or four re-encoded cards in return, and Tran would use these cards, typically for one or two transactions at about $200 per transaction before the accounts were shut down. This process was repeated several times over the course of the scheme.

On Jan. 14, 2011, the Harford County Sheriff's Office began investigating a complaint related to credit card skimming activity at the retail location where Tran worked. On Feb. 28, 2011, Tran's residence was searched and HSI special agents seized computer equipment and peripheral devices used in the creation of the fraudulent credit cards.

Tran faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for mail fraud at his May 24 sentencing before U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar.

Nguyen previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the scheme and was sentenced Dec. 17, 2012, to six years in prison.

Today's announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was created November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys' offices and state and local partners, it's the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. 

Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

HSI Orange County, the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Postal Inspection Service in California, City of Orange Police Department, Costa Mesa Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California assisted in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Judson T. Mihok.

Woman Sentenced for Using Fake I.D. to Receive Government Benefits

A Twin Cities woman was sentenced in federal court Friday, January 18, 2013, for using an alternative identity to fraudulently receive government benefits, including more than $18,000 in Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Oluremi George, 53, of Woodbury, aka Victoria Ayoola, pleaded guilty to one count of Social Security fraud and one count of making false statements. She was sentenced to two years of probation, and was ordered to pay $18,114 in restitution. She was indicted July 10.

This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

"Identity fraud poses a serious security vulnerability, which often contributes to a host of other crimes – including the false identity and financial fraud in this case," said Michael Feinberg, special agent in charge for HSI St. Paul. "Targeting these schemes is an enforcement priority for HSI.  We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to detect, investigate and dismantle identity fraud."

In her plea agreement, George admitted that she applied for, and received, a Social Security card under the name Victoria Ayoola Nov. 19, 1996. On the application, George indicated that she had never before been issued a Social Security number. However, she in fact had already received a Social Security number under the name Oluremi George, issued Nov. 26, 1991.

Since 1996, George had used both Social Security numbers and identities to apply for and renew Minnesota identification cards and driver's licenses, to seek and obtain employment, and to file federal and state tax returns. George also used the false identity to receive a lower monthly housing rental rate by qualifying for a LIHTC rental unit at Pondview Townhomes in Woodbury. George's fraud resulted in her underpaying more than $18,000 in rent since 2004.

Pondview is a low-income housing development that provides housing assistance to its residents through the use of HUD loans and funds, as well as through LIHTCs. To be eligible to live in one of the units, a person must make less than the federal annual tax credit income limit. In 2011, that limit for Washington County, where Woodbury is located, was $35,280.

In an effort to qualify for the subsidized housing unit, George certified that her anticipated 2011 income was $30,930, even though she knew it would actually be $55,887.13.

HSI was assisted in this case by the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General, HUD's Office of Inspector General, the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, and the Minnesota State Patrol, with assistance from the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office.

Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Trafficking Identities of Puerto Rican US Citizens

Five foreign nationals were sentenced to prison for their respective roles in trafficking the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and corresponding identity documents, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Rosa E. Rodríguez-Vélez for the District of Puerto Rico; Director John Morton of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Postal Inspector Guy J. Cottrell of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Scott P. Bultrowicz, Director of the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chief Richard Weber.

Daniel Aparicio-Lara, 29, a Mexican national formerly of Burlington, N.C., was sentenced Tuesday, December 18, 2012, to 66 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder in the Middle District of North Carolina. In addition to his prison term, Aparicio-Lara was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $140,800 in proceeds. On Sept. 18, 2012, Aparicio-Lara pleaded guilty in front of Judge Schroeder to one count of conspiracy to commit identification fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Manuel Guzman-Santos, 37, a Dominican national formerly of Worcester, Mass., and Marco Pena, 37, a Dominican national formerly of Dorchester, Mass., were sentenced Monday, December 17, 2012, by U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro in the District of Massachusetts. Both Guzman-Santos and Pena were sentenced to serve 30 months in prison. On Aug. 2, 2012, Guzman-Santos and Pena each pleaded guilty in front of Judge Tauro to one count of conspiracy to commit identification fraud.

Adelfo Perez-Garcia, 36, a Mexican national formerly of Seymour, Ind., and Alma Yesenia Garcia-Ramirez, 29, a Mexican national formerly of Crystal Lake, Ill., were sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí in the District of Puerto Rico. Perez-Garcia was sentenced to serve 24 months and one day in prison and Garcia-Ramirez was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison. Judge Gelpí ordered the removal of both defendants from the United States after the completion of their sentences and ordered that Garcia-Ramirez forfeit $35,900 in proceeds. On Aug. 28, 2012, Perez-Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit identification fraud in the District of Puerto Rico in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll. On Sept. 4, 2012, Garcia-Ramirez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain in the District of Puerto Rico before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce J. McGiverin.

The five defendants were charged in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico Mar. 22, 2012. To date, a total of 53 individuals have been charged for their roles in the identity trafficking scheme, and 23 defendants have pleaded guilty.

Court documents allege that individuals located in the Savarona area of Caguas, Puerto Rico, obtained Puerto Rican identities and corresponding identity documents. Other conspirators located in various cities throughout the United States (identity brokers) allegedly solicited customers and sold Social Security cards and corresponding Puerto Rico birth certificates for prices ranging from $700 to $2,500 per set. The superseding indictment alleges that identity brokers ordered the identity documents from Savarona suppliers, on behalf of the customers, by making coded telephone calls. The conspirators are charged with using text messages, money transfer services and express, priority or regular U.S. mail to complete their illicit transactions.

Court documents allege that some identity brokers assumed a Puerto Rican identity themselves and used that identity in connection with the trafficking operation. Their customers allegedly generally obtained the identity documents to assume the identity of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and to obtain additional identification documents, such as legitimate state driver's licenses. Some customers allegedly obtained the documents to commit financial fraud and attempted to obtain a U.S. passport.

According to court documents, various identity brokers were operating in Rockford, Ill.; DeKalb, Ill.; Aurora, Ill.; Seymour, Ind.; Columbus, Ind.; Indianapolis; Hartford, Conn.; Clewiston, Fla.; Lilburn, Ga.; Norcross, Ga.; Salisbury, Md.; Columbus, Ohio; Fairfield, Ohio; Dorchester, Mass.; Lawrence, Mass.; Salem, Mass.; Worcester, Mass.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Nebraska City, Neb.; Elizabeth, N.J.; Burlington, N.C.; Hickory, N.C.; Hazelton, Pa.; Philadelphia; Houston; Abingdon, Va.; Albertville, Ala.; and Providence, R.I.

According to court documents, Aparicio-Lara admitted that he was an identity broker who operated in North Carolina and Missouri; Guzman-Santos and Pena admitted that they were identity brokers who operated in Massachusetts; and Perez-Garcia admitted that he was an identity broker who operated in Indiana. Garcia-Ramirez admitted to assisting an Illinois-based identity broker and transferring money on behalf of the organization. The five defendants used either a real Texan or Puerto Rican identity themselves to commit identification fraud and to facilitate their identity trafficking business.

The charges are the result of Operation Island Express, an ongoing, nationally-coordinated investigation led by HSI Chicago and USPIS, DSS and IRS-CI offices in Chicago, in coordination with HSI San Juan. The Illinois Secretary of State Police (Elgin, Ill.) Police Department; Seymour (Ind.) Police Department; and Indiana State Police provided substantial assistance. HSI Dominican Republic and International Organized Crime Intelligence, and Operations Center as well as various ICE, USPIS, DSS and IRS-CI offices around the country provided invaluable assistance.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys James S. Yoon, Hope S. Olds, Courtney B. Schaefer, and Christina Giffin of the Justice Department Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, with the assistance of Acting Deputy Chief Jeannette Gunderson of the Criminal Division's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, and the support of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Indiana, District of Connecticut, District of Massachusetts, District of Nebraska, Middle District of North Carolina, Southern District of Ohio, District of Rhode Island, Southern District of Texas and Western District of Virginia provided substantial assistance.

Potential victims and the public may obtain information about the case at: www.justice.gov/criminal/vns/caseup/beltrerj.html. Anyone who believes their identity may have been compromised in relation to this investigation may contact the ICE toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) and its online tip form at www.ice.gov/tipline. Anyone who may have information about particular crimes in this case should also report it to the ICE tip line or website.

Anyone who believes that they have been a victim of identity theft, or wants information about preventing identity theft, may obtain helpful information and complaint forms on various government websites including the Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Website, www.ftc.gov/idtheft. 

Fraudulent Document Mill Shut Down by HSI

Two Fresno-area residents were arraigned Friday, December 14, 2012, on federal charges stemming from a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that allegedly revealed they operated a fraudulent document mill.

Antonio Mora-Cruz, 45, and Soledad Vargas-Herrera, 59, both of Madera, were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shelia K. Oberto on a 12-count indictment charging them with conspiring to produce and sell false identification documents. Mora-Cruz was also charged with being a deported alien found in the United States. The two defendants have been in custody since their arrest Dec. 4, 2012.

According to the indictment, between November and December, Mora-Cruz and Vargas-Herrera produced false identification documents at a residence in Madera they used as a fraudulent document mill. During the course of the conspiracy, customers would place orders for false documents directly with Mora-Cruz and Vargas-Herrera. The defendants took photographs and biographical information from the customers and used the information to produce fraudulent Social Security cards and alien registration cards, also known as "green cards." Mora-Cruz and Vargas-Herrera then delivered the completed false documents to customers, charging approximately $120 for a set of counterfeit cards.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Baker is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

11 Arrested for Immigration and Document Fraud Conspiracy, Attempted to Bribe USCIS Employee

Eleven men are in federal custody following their arrest Wednesday, November 28, 2012, in Myrtle Beach by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their attempt to fraudulently acquire immigration documents.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for South Carolina have charged the men, 10 from Israel and one from Kenya, for knowingly conspiring with each other to procure by fraud resident alien and employment authorization documents.

The defendants, none of whom are from South Carolina, are accused of travelling to Myrtle Beach to meet with who they thought was a corrupt U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employee. The men are alleged to have paid the supposedly corrupt employee varying amounts of money, typically $5,000 or $6,000, for the valid immigration documents. Following the arrest operation, HSI special agents seized more than $120,000 from the defendants.

"Defending the integrity of our immigration system is a key component of our national security system," said Brock. D. Nicholson, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta. "Those who seek to corrupt our system must be swiftly identified and brought to justice."

The individuals arrested are charged under a criminal indictment, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The defendants are:

·                             Nevo Yosef Katzav

·                             Amir Arpally

·                             Assi David Nishri

·                             Einan Salach

·                             Idan Oren

·                             Omri Lipman

·                             Anat Bor

·                             Florence Tiego

·                             Lior Shriki

·                             Amos Shmilovich

·                             Eran Kol

ICE and HSI Dismantle Extensive Identity Tax Fraud Scheme

One of the nation's largest and longest running stolen identity tax refund fraud schemes – involving more than 8,000 fraudulent U.S. income tax returns seeking $65 million in illicit refunds – has been shut down by a New Jersey-based task force.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents assisted in the investigation as part of the New Jersey Financial Crimes Task Force.

Fourteen people were charged Wednesday, September 19, 2012, with conspiracy to defraud the United States and substantive counts of theft of government property, which resulted in $11.3 million in losses. They were arrested as part of a coordinated investigation by a New Jersey-based task force that includes IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

Ten of the defendants made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson Sept. 19 in Newark federal court while other defendants will be making their appearances in out-of-state federal courts including: New York; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Greensboro, N.C. One defendant is already in custody in Texas on unrelated charges.

"The New Jersey Financial Crimes Task Force has proven to be an effective tool in dismantling criminal organizations that threaten the financial stability of our nation," said Andrew McLees, special agent in charge of HSI Newark. "Today's arrest exemplifies that HSI stands on the front line of financial crimes and continues proactive cooperation with our federal law enforcement partners to serve as a unified force in the fight against these illegal financial schemes that have far-reaching impact."

"The defendants in this case allegedly tried to steal $65 million using stolen identities to obtain refunds to which they were not entitled," U.S. Attorney Fishman said. "No matter how sophisticated, these crimes are pure theft. They victimize all members of the public, especially those whose identities are stolen."

"These types of tax fraud schemes have been around for many years," USPIS Inspector in Charge Phillip R. Bartlett said. "The Postal Inspection Service noted a significant increase in tax refund fraud schemes approximately three years ago and formed the New Jersey Financial Crimes Task Force in an effort to identify, disrupt and dismantle organized groups engaged in these schemes."

"Using stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns seeking bogus refunds is a serious crime that we do not take lightly at the IRS," Richard Weber, chief, IRS-Criminal Investigation, said. "The refund fraud alleged in today's complaints was highly organized and relied on many willing accomplices. IRS-Criminal Investigation has made investigating refund fraud and identity theft a top priority and we will relentlessly pursue those who attempt to undermine the integrity of our tax system."

According to the criminal complaints, Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) is a common type of fraud that results in more than $2 billion in losses annually to the U.S. Treasury. SIRF schemes generally share a number of hallmarks:

·                             Perpetrators obtain personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, from unwitting individuals, who often reside in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Puerto Rican citizens are issued Social Security numbers, but are not required to pay federal income tax unless they derive income from United States-based companies or from the United States government. These Social Security numbers are a valuable commodity for perpetrators of SIRFs, because they are usually not already associated with a tax return.)

·                             Participants complete and file – frequently filing electronically – individual income tax returns using the fraudulently-obtained information, and falsifying wages earned, taxes withheld and other data. Perpetrators make it appear that the "taxpayers" listed on the fraudulent returns are entitled to tax refunds.

·                             Perpetrators direct the U.S. Treasury Department to issue the refunds through tax refund Treasury checks generated by the fraudulent tax returns to locations they control or can access.

Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, federal law enforcement agencies created a multi-agency task force in New Jersey led by investigators from the IRS and the USPIS, along with support from the U.S. Secret Service, HSI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The task force has revealed that at least as early as 2007, dozens of individuals in the New Jersey and New York area have been engaged in a large-scale, long-running SIRF scheme involving more than 8,000 fraudulent U.S. income tax returns seeking $65 million in illicit refunds and with losses to the United States government of more than $11.3 million.

The scheme was carried out by Jose Torres, aka Jose Quilestorres, 46, of Bronx, N.Y.; Roberto Diaz, 44, of Demarest, N.J.; Elian Matlovsky, 27, of New York; Porfirio Paredes,44, of Hazelton, Pa.; Rosa Marmol, 34, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Luis Martinez, 47, of Matthews, N.C.; Ennio Guzman, 44, and Alejandro Javier, 50, both of Newark, N.J.; David Pinski, 73, of Fort Lee, N.J.; Michael Senatore, 41, of Moscow, Pa.; Rosario Terzulli, 38, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Manuel Rodriguez, 50, of New Brunswick, N.J.; Rigoberto Torres aka R. Torres, 40, of New Brunswick, N.J., and others.

The complaints set forth the specific role that each conspirator played in the scheme, including obtaining the personal identifying information from Puerto Rican citizens, creating and filing the fraudulent 1040 forms, and obtaining, selling, depositing and cashing the tax refund Treasury checks.

Torres, Rodriguez and others gained control of refund checks in various ways, following the pattern of a classic SIRF scheme. Sometimes they bribed mail carriers to intercept checks and deliver them to other conspirators. One mail carrier, Bennie Haynes, who delivered mail along a route in Somerset, N.J., has previously been charged.

Torres and others also purchased "mail routes," that is, lists of addresses covered by a single mail carrier, from other conspirators, including Diaz. Once the mail route was purchased, Torres and others applied for tax refund checks, inserted addresses along the mail route as the purported home addresses of the "taxpayers," and obtained the checks sent to those addresses.

Hundreds of refund checks were mailed to just a few addresses in a few towns, including Nutley, Somerset and Newark, N.J., and Shirley, N.Y.

They induced third parties or straw account holders to open bank accounts at various banks in New Jersey and elsewhere or caused the checks to be cashed at check cashing businesses, and the proceeds deposited into bank accounts controlled by conspirators.

Members of the task force identified certain "hot spots" of activity related to the scheme, where conspirators were directing millions of dollars' worth of refund checks to just a few towns and cities in and around New Jersey. The task force members interacted with U.S. Postal Service employees in these hot spots, and more than $22 million worth of refund checks – fraudulently applied for – were interdicted by law enforcement officers.

The complaints also include forfeiture allegations seeking the seizure of more than $11 million in ill-gotten gains, including luxury autos that were seized.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Texas Lawyer Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Corporate Identity Theft Scheme

A Houston lawyer was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and 36 months of home confinement Thursday, Aug. 9. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa and the U.S. Secret Service's Tampa and Newark, N.J., field offices.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from February 2005 through July 2006, Roger Shoss, 67, of Houston, and codefendant Nicolette Loisel, also a Houston lawyer, conspired to steal the identities of dormant, publicly-traded companies. They then used the corporate identities they had stolen to create fraudulent, empty-shell companies that had the appearance of being publicly traded. They subsequently sold the fraudulent empty-shell companies for a profit. 

The four companies featured in the indictment were Mobilestream Inc., Regaltech Inc., Nanoforce Inc. and Rocky Mountain Gold Mining Inc., which emanated from 3E International Inc., Pacific Chemical Inc., Webgalaxy Inc. and Greensmart Corporation, respectively.

The administrative and money laundering functions of this scheme were headquartered in Pinellas County, Fla. Multiple wire transfers, totaling at least $800,000, were initiated from the Middle District of Florida to Shoss, in payment for the companies. Shoss, in turn, paid Loisel more than $450,000 for her role in the scheme.

"These individuals – both attorneys – conspired to make a profit through a sophisticated investment fraud and money laundering scheme," said Sue McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. "HSI works closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute con-artists like Shoss and Loisel."

In addition to his prison sentence, Shoss is required to pay a final forfeiture money judgment, in the amount of $800,000. This amount represents proceeds obtained by Shoss and Loisel as a result of their criminal activities. A final order of forfeiture was also entered for Shoss' residence in Houston, which was purchased with proceeds traceable to the wire fraud conspiracy. 

"The U.S. Secret Service and HSI continually strive to enhance our law enforcement partnership by leveraging our respective capabilities, expertise and manpower in support of our distinct law enforcement missions," said John Joyce, U.S. Secret Service's Tampa special agent in charge. "The U.S. Secret Service and HSI will continue to effectively investigate, deter and diminish the threat posed by various types of criminals to our nation's financial infrastructure."

A federal jury found Shoss and Loisel guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on May 22. Loisel's sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

ICE and HSI Launch License Regulation Campaign in Puerto Rico

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) joined forces with the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) and Department of Health to fight document and benefit fraud Tuesday, March 27. In launching the "Doing the Right Thing" campaign, HSI and its local partners announced that they will work together to identify potential suspicious activity on the part of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Demographic Registry (DR) customers and evidence of fraud or corruption among DMV or DR personnel.

In December 2009, HSI approved the Identity and Benefit Fraud Unit (IBFU) to proceed with an outreach campaign to raise awareness about corruption at DMV facilities nationwide. In Puerto Rico, the initiative extended to the DR. ICE developed a poster, brochure and short outreach video entitled "Do the Right Thing: Stop Identity and Benefit Fraud" to support the outreach and educate DMV employees and the public about the seriousness of identity and benefit schemes perpetrated at the DMV throughout the nation. The materials are intended to provide guidance to DMV and DR employees by promoting accountability and vigilance in an effort to reduce corruption and preserve the integrity of the DMV and DR process.

A principal component of the campaign is to alert DMV and DR employees, law enforcement and the public about fraud schemes perpetrated at DMV facilities. By adding education and outreach components, ICE is proactively taking steps to deter the crime from happening, encouraging people to report the crime, and developing strong partnerships to ensure that its investigations are comprehensive and more efficient.

The issuance of genuine identification documents through fraudulent means at DMV facilities directly impacts homeland security, highway safety and general society through identity theft. The driver's license has morphed from its intended use as a document that allows an individual to operate a vehicle into a document that has become a "de-facto" national identity card.

The driver's license can be used as proof of identity when completing employment eligibility forms, boarding an aircraft, opening a bank account and demonstrating residency to many forms of local, state and federal government components. There is no clearer example of the threat posed by fraudulently obtained legitimate driver's licenses than the fact that 19 hijackers involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks used 364 aliases and were able to obtain a total of 26 state-issued DMV identification documents, many through fraudulent means.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, the problem of identity theft was primarily as a financial matter, as a significant component of fraud. However, it was the events of September 11 that triggered society's awareness of the criminal use of false identifiers and false identification documents, including driver's licenses.

"Document and identity fraud are serious crimes that pose a threat to both public safety and national security, and it is our responsibility to educate the public and those involved in the issuance of these documents of the dangers of letting them fall in the wrong hands and the consequences of conspiring to commit fraud," said Angel Meledez, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "We applaud our partners in DTOP and Department of Health for assisting us in this endeavor."

Puerto Rico Birth Certificate

Although local legislation led to the creation of a new, more secure Puerto Rico birth certificate, criminal organizations always find a way to forfeit government issued documents or obtain legitimate ones to perpetrate their crimes. As recently as January 2012, 50 individuals were charged in an indictment in Puerto Rico with conspiracy to commit identification fraud in connection with their alleged roles in a scheme to traffic the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and corresponding identity documents. The charges were the result of an extensive investigation led by HSI, in partnership with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

According to the indictment, conspirators in 15 states and Puerto Rico trafficked the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens, corresponding Social Security cards, Puerto Rico birth certificates and driver's licenses to undocumented aliens and others residing in the United States. As alleged in the indictment, the customers generally obtained the identity documents to assume the identity of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and to obtain additional identification documents, such as legitimate state driver's licenses. Some customers allegedly obtained the documents to commit financial fraud and attempted to obtain a U.S. passport.