9/19/2021- 3:57 p.m.
Two Chilean Immigrants living in the San Fernando Valley Who Ran Large-Scale Counterfeit Identification Document Ring Receive Federal Prison Sentences
They and a third man participated in an extensive scheme that produced and sold counterfeit identity documents – including United States passport cards, Social Security cards and driver’s licenses.
Carlos Ayala Hernandez, a.k.a. “Juan Juarez,” 45, an illegal alien living in Granada Hills, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison by United States District Judge John F. Walter. Also today, Judge Walter sentenced Miguel Juarez Guerrero, 24, of Van Nuys, to 20 months in federal prison.
From January 2016 to January 2021, Hernandez, Guerrero and Nestor Perez, a.k.a. “Daniel Perez,” 32, of Van Nuys, operated an illegal business in which they manufactured and sold false identification documents.
These counterfeit documents included U.S. passport cards, lawful permanent resident cards (more commonly known as “Green Cards”), employment authorization document cards, Social Security cards, and driver’s licenses purporting to be from multiple states.
At the direction of – and in exchange for payment from Hernandez and Guerrero, Perez manufactured the counterfeit identification documents at a Van Nuys apartment.
Perez made the bogus documents using personal identifying information – including names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers – of real persons After manufacturing the phony documents, Perez provided them to Hernandez and Guerrero, who then sold the documents to others.
In January 2021, in Hernandez’s residence – where Guerrero also lived – law enforcement found firearms, assorted ammunition and $40,483 generated from the false identification document scheme.
At the Van Nuys apartment, officers also found a robust counterfeit document lab, including approximately 243 completed false identification documents, approximately 1,000 fraudulent authentication seals, 14 printers, a scanner and an ultraviolet light used to test the security features on counterfeit ID documents.
