United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

TWO FACE FEDERAL CHARGES
IN FRAUDULENT DOCUMENT RING
OPERATING IN DALLAS

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that a federal grand jury in Dallas returned an indictment today charging Adrian Guerrero-Sanchez and Fernando Garcia-Santiago each with one count of Conspiracy to Forge, Counterfeit and Falsely Make Alien Registration Receipt Cards and to Possess Counterfeit Social Security Cards with the Intent to Sell. The indictment also charges Guerrero-Sanchez with Illegal Reentry After Deportation from the United States and charges Garcia-Santiago with Improper Entry by an Alien.

Both Guerrero-Sanchez and Garcia-Santiago have been in custody since their arrest in early February on charges outlined in a federal criminal complaint.

U.S. Attorney Roper said, “Today’s indictment is the direct result of the excellent investigative work of the office of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, broke up this fraudulent document ring operating in Dallas.” Roper continued, “This exemplifies the positive results that can be achieved when federal, state and local law enforcement work toward a common goal.”

According to the indictment, from January 11 through February 2, 2006, Adrian Guerrero-Sanchez, Fernando Garcia-Santiago and others conspired to provide fraudulent identification documents, including alien registration cards, Social Security cards and Texas State Identification cards to others for a fee. During this time period, investigators with the Texas Attorney General’s Office and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted surveillance at the parking lot of Jerry’s Supermercado located at the corner of North Henderson and Capitol Street in Dallas. On several occasions Adrian Guerrero-Sanchez was observed meeting individuals who paid him money to provide them with fraudulent identification documents. Guerrero-Sanchez would provide the identification information to Fernando Garcia-Santiago who would then leave the area and go to an apartment located at 5018 San Jacinto in Dallas. Later Garcia-Santiago would return to the Jerry’s Supermercado parking lot, giving Guerrero-Sanchez brown envelopes containing the fraudulent documents.

On February 2, 2006, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Texas Attorney General’s Office, working with the North Texas Identity Theft Task Force, executed search warrants at the apartment located at 5018 San Jacinto, Adrian Guerrero-Sanchez’ residence and a beauty salon located across the street from Jerry’s Supermercado. Items seized included fraudulent alien registration cards, blank fraudulent Social Security cards, laminates for use on the alien registration cards and Texas Drivers licenses, blank Mexican birth certificates, paper cutters, exacto knife blades, heat sealers, a computer, a scanner, a laminator, U.S. currency and loaded firearms.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, each face a maximum statutory sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 find on the conspiracy count.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Texas Attorney General's Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the North Texas Identity Theft Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Macaluso.