Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 6

TWO PLEAD GUILTY IN TERRORIST DOCUMENT STING

JACKSON, Miss. – Two New Orleans men have pleaded guilty to their involvement in a conspiracy to sell false documents to purported members of Abu Sayyaf, a Philippines-based group that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

The guilty pleas by Cedric Carpenter and Lamont Ranson February 28 were the culmination of an eight-month investigation by ICE agents.

Carpenter and Ranson agreed to produce false identification documents—Mississippi driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and birth certificates— knowing that the intended recipients of the false identification documents were represented to be members of Abu Sayyaf, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization under U.S. law.

“Criminal organizations willing to sell false identities to anyone for any purpose pose a serious threat to our homeland,” said Assistant Secretary Michael J. Garcia. “The defendants in this case had no qualms about providing fraudulent IDs to people they believed were terrorists. They now face serious consequences for their actions.”

In April 2004, Carpenter and Ranson approached an individual on a cruise ship seeking illegal narcotics, and offering to provide false identity documents. Beginning in June 2004, Carpenter and Ranson had discussions with confidential informants of ICE about a proposal to produce false identification documents for a group of individuals identified as members of Abu Sayyaf. Ranson was familiar with Abu Sayyaf from his prior service with the U.S. Navy.

In early July 2004, Carpenter met with the informant and displayed a complete set of fraudulent identification documents, including a birth certificate, Social Security card and Mississippi driver’s license.

After viewing the documents, the informant requested five sets of documents. Carpenter responded with an asking price of $100,000, stating he wanted $50,000 in currency and $50,000 worth of heroin (about half a kilogram). In August 2004, Carpenter continued to express interest in completing the transaction, but, ultimately, no deal was ever concluded.

On August 31, 2004, ICE agents arrested Carpenter and Ransom at their homes in New Orleans.

As part of the guilty plea, both defendants admitted to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Based on this charge, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years.

ICE Arrests 5,000th Predator

Two Plead Guilty in Terrorist Document Sting

ICE Seizes Millions in Fake Trading Cards

ICE Arrests 27 Illegal Aliens Working in N.C. Aviation Jobs

ICE Nabs Two for Illegal Exports to Iran, Syria

ICE Deports Man Who Beat Victim with Bat to Belarus

ICE Returns Man Wanted for Double Murder in Honduras

Charges Files Against Man in Fatal Human Smuggling Case

ICE Removes Career Criminal

Algerian Bomb Expert Removed

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

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