This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 2:30 PM- Federal authorities arrested two Mexican nationals accused of stealing identities to make fake Social Security cards and driver's licenses.
Enrique "Kike" Mejorada and Jorge Gil Moreno, who also goes by the names "Josue" and "El Pollo," are being held on federal charges. They allegedly produced several fake IDs using stolen and unissued Social Security numbers, according to federal court documents filed Friday.
Mejorada and Moreno are charged with immigration/residency/employment document fraud, identity fraud, aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting.
"In many of these cases, the recipients of false identification have been arrested and prosecuted," FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Fuhrman stated.
"In this case, and in several recent cases, we have concentrated on apprehending and prosecuting the manufacturers and producers of the false identification documents in order to stem the proliferation of identity theft and investigation."
FBI undercover officers purchased "several" Social Security cards and California driver's licenses from Mejorada and Moreno, since beginning their investigation in April, court documents state.
One under cover officer told the pair that he needed sets of IDs for employees who entered the country illegally, and that the documents would be used to smuggle family members into the U.S., court documents state.
ngonzalez@sltrib.com" Target="_BLANK">ngonzalez@sltrib.com