Third And Final Member, Victor Hugo Quesada-Pacheco, Of Kalamazoo Counterfeit Identification Document Ring Sentenced

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles announced today that Victor Hugo Quesada-Pacheco, also known as "Galvan," age 34, a citizen of Mexico who most recently resided illegally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment today for his role in a counterfeit identification document ring. Quesada-Pacheco is the final defendant involved in the ring to be sentenced. Jesus Emmanuel Lopez-Garcia and Jaime Velasco-Jimenez previously received sentences of 36 months’ imprisonment.

          Between September, 2013, and March, 2015, the ring produced hundreds of counterfeit identification documents at the apartments of Velasco-Jimenez in Plainwell and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Velasco-Jimenez recruited Lopez-Garcia and Victor Hugo Quesada-Pacheco to solicit illegal aliens residing in Kent and Kalamazoo counties in need of counterfeit identification documents. Lopez-Garcia and Quesada-Pacheco provided the names, false social security account numbers, and other false biographical information for their customers to Velasco-Jimenez who then produced counterfeit driver’s licenses, state identification documents, social security account number cards, lawful permanent resident cards, and other false identification documents at his apartment in Kalamazoo. Lopez-Garcia and Quesada-Pacheco then delivered the counterfeit identification documents to their customers and collected a fee that was shared with Velasco-Jimenez.

          Marlon Miller, special agent in charge for HSI Detroit, commented that "HSI will continue to aggressively target counterfeit identity document schemes." He explained that "The proliferation of counterfeit identity documents can have a rippling effect on all of us because it potentially compromises national security and the integrity of the U.S. immigration system."

          Quesada-Pacheco forfeited numerous electronic devices and cash related to his crime. And he faces removal from the United States.

          Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Stella prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations division in Grand Rapids.