PHOENIX (AP) - Maricopa County Sheriff’s officials say a man accused of manufacturing and trafficking stolen identifications is in custody.
They say 35-year-old Gustavo Carranza-Villa previously was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for fraudulently producing government documents and was deported back to Mexico in 2006.
Sheriff’s officials say they received a tip that led detectives to a suspect believed to be selling fraudulent IDs to businesses for the purpose of helping illegal immigrants obtain jobs.
During the six-month investigation, detectives working undercover were sold fake U.S. government permanent resident ID cards and bogus Social Security cards.
They were able to track down Carranza-Villa to a Glendale apartment he was working out of.
After a search warrant was served, authorities say they found a printer, card stock, printer ribbons and fraudulent IDs.
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