Two Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty in Fraudulent Identification Document Conspiracy

FRESNO, Calif. — Two Fresno residents pleaded guilty today to a scheme that involved the manufacture and sale of fraudulent identification documents, including fraudulent alien registration receipt cards and social security cards, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Francisco Javier Hidalgo-Flores, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce, transfer, possess, and sell false identification documents, and co‑defendant Lizet Amairani Ramirez-Zazueta, 26, pleaded guilty to transferring false identification documents.

According to the plea agreements, between June 2015 and June 17, 2016, Hidalgo-Flores manufactured fraudulent identification documents, including social security cards and alien registration receipt cards, for customers who placed orders and paid as much as $150 for a set of the fraudulent documents. Hidalgo-Flores and Ramirez-Zazueta also delivered fraudulent identification documents to customers and other co-conspirators in Fresno and Madera Counties.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Baker is prosecuting the case.

On June 16, 2016, Hidalgo-Flores and Ramirez-Zazueta and four co-defendants were indicted for the scheme. Charges are pending against the remaining co-defendants. The charges are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Hidalgo-Flores and Ramirez-Zazueta are scheduled to be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on December 12, 2016. Hidalgo-Flores faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; Ramirez-Zazueta faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentences, 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.