FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
April 19, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:12-MJ-00072 GSA

                FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that a federal grand jury returned a ten-count indictment today charging Esteban Mendoza-Galeno, 44, a Mexican citizen and Fresno resident, with the production and sale of fraudulent government identification documents.
According to court documents, between February and March 2012, Mendoza-Galeno manufactured and sold false identification documents, such as social security cards and permanent resident cards, to customers in Fresno.  Mendoza-Galeno was also known to certain customers as “El Chacaloso” – the name of the sporting goods store where he sold documents.

                This case was the product of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  Assistant United States Attorney Ian Garriques is prosecuting the case.

                If convicted, Mendoza-Galeno faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.  The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

                The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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