Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 11

ICE Seizes 1,300 Fake Badges, Warns Public

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The arrest by ICE of a New York man who had more than 1,300 fake law enforcement badges has raised serious security concerns and prompted ICE to issue a public alert.

Sergio Khorosh, a resident of the Bronx, N.Y., was arrested May 9 by ICE agents. His arrest came after an investigation that began on April 25, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspectors in San Francisco intercepted a package from Taiwan that was marked “badges.” The package contained 100 counterfeit U.S. Marshals Service badges imprinted with the stamp of the legitimate manufacturer on the back.

On May 9, an undercover ICE agent arrived at the Bronx apartment to deliver the package containing 100 counterfeit badges to Khorosh. After Khorosh accepted the package, ICE agents executed a search warrant on his apartment where they seized more than 1,000 high-quality counterfeit badges depicting 35 different federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. ICE agents also seized a number of handguns, rifles, drugs, cash and police equipment, including body armor and uniforms, when they arrested Khorosh, who is a native of Russia and a naturalized United States citizen.

On May 11, ICE issued an advisory to the public to warn of the potential danger presented by the fake badges.

“This seizure has serious Homeland Security and public safety implications, given that these counterfeit badges may have been intended for use by criminals and others with no legal authority to carry law enforcement badges,” the statement said. “ICE agents have launched a full investigation to determine the intended recipients of these badges and to track down any counterfeit badges that may have fallen into the wrong hands.”

The statement reminded the public that a police badge alone does not necessarily reflect law enforcement status. It said legitimate police and law enforcement officers should present credentials with photo identification as well as a badge when conducting their duties.

“This was a truly frightening discovery,” said ICE New York Special Agent-in-Charge Martin Ficke.

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Fake Badges and More

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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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