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February 18, 2005
ICE DOCUMENT FRAUD INVESTIGATION NABS 22 IN BOSTON
Criminal ring manufactured and sold phony documents to illegal aliens
BOSTON— A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation of an organized criminal scheme to manufacture fake identification documents and sell them to illegal aliens has led to 22 arrests in the Boston area, officials announced today.
Three Brazilian nationals in the United States illegally -- Antonio Ferreira, Adriano Amaro and Ivanice Silva -- were arrested and charged in U.S. District Court with conspiracy, counterfeiting immigration documents and possessing illegal identification documents.
The court documents allege that Ferreira produced counterfeit immigration and identification documents such as visas, green cards and Social Security cards, depending on needs of the “customers.” The investigation revealed that Amaro and Silva assisted Ferreira by helping to locate customers; advising and assisting the customers with the license application process either at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles or the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles; and collecting payments for the fraudulent documents.
In addition, ICE agents made various administrative arrests in the greater Boston area of 19 illegal foreign nationals, many of who procured documents through this scheme. The investigation and subsequent arrests are part of ICE’s ongoing commitment to crack down on those who profit by producing and selling fraudulent documents – a key component of the agency’s mission to restore integrity to the nation’s immigration system.
The arrests and indictments were announced jointly by U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Robin M. Avers, ICE Special Agent-in-Charge in New England; and Col. Thomas G. Robbins, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.
“ICE considers combating fraudulent document schemes to be a national security priority,” said Avers. “Fraudulent documents enable people to establish false identities and the false perception that they are in this country legally. With identity established, criminals and terrorists could ultimately be able to gain access to protected areas and critical infrastructure sites, such as power and water plants, airports and military bases.”
Avers commended the Massachusetts State Police Compliance Unit; the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service; the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles; and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department for their cooperation in the investigation.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial or by guilty plea. If convicted of the charges, each of the defendants faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the counterfeiting and possessing immigration documents charge; five years in prison on the general conspiracy charge; and three years in prison on each of the remaining charges.
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