NORFOLK -- Federal agents say they broke up a counterfeit ring that put forged documents into the hands of illegal immigrants in Hampton Roads.
Patrocinio Castro-Quijano, Gerardo Ortega-Cortes, and Onofre De La Cruz-Vite appeared in United States District Court Tuesday afternoon for a preliminary/detention hearing, answering to allegations they illegally produced Resident Alien Cards and Social Security Cards, as well as other documentation, then sold them.
Kevin D. Hogancamp, a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), says in an affidavit he and other members of an investigative team used confidential informants on several occasions to broker deals for the counterfeit documents. Hogancamp outlines some of the evidence against the defendants, including audio and visual recordings and bogus documents recovered from the purchases facilitated by the confidential informants.
On January 20, 2010, agents executed a search warrant at a home in Norfolk. Hogancamp writes, "Multiple computers, scanners, cameras, card stock and other items used (to) manufacture counterfeit identification documents were discovered in the residence."
The special agent goes on to say, "Moments before Castro-Quijano answered the door, a member of the investigative team conducting perimeter security in the rear of the residence observed a small object thrown from the window. The agent collected what he immediately determined to be a portable storage device (thumb drive) concealed in a small Christmas stocking. In a post arrest interview, Ortega-Cortes admitted to throwing the thumb drive out the window. Preliminary computer forensic analysis of the thumb drive revealed 75-100 images of Resident Alien Cards, Social Security Cards, and North Carolina Driver's Licenses. Each image appeared to contain a different person and different biographical information."
Hogancamp explains, "Post arrest statements indicated Castro-Quijano, Ortega-Cortes, and De La Cruz-Vite were all involved in the conspiracy to manufacture of counterfeit documents. Specifically, Castro-Quijano indicated he was engaged in selling counterfeit documents, but maintained that he had only sold 8-12 cards. Ortega-Cortes admitted to selling 35 to 40 sets of counterfeit documents, each set included a counterfeit Resident Alien Card and a counterfeit Social Security Card. De La Cruz-Vite admitted that he was involved in the scheme to produce counterfeit identification documents in that he took pictures of persons purchasing the cards and collected money from the sales."
13News stopped by the home of Castro-Quijano Tuesday, where his wife, Soccorro Rodriguez, was with their four children. Rodriguez and other family members describe the 36-year-old as a good husband and father. They tell us he works as a contractor and that they were not aware that Castro-Quijano might have been doing something illegal. Rodriguez also tells 13News her husband's co-defendants are good people.
