Two Valley Men Sentenced To Prison For Fake Document Scheme

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — Two San Fernando Valley men were sentenced to federal prison after participating in fake document ring that made and sold counterfeit passport cards, Social Security cards, driver's licenses and similar items.

23-year-old Miguel Guerrero of Van Nuys was sentenced to a year and eight months, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Carlos A. Hernandez, a 44-year-old man from Granada Hills, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Hernandez pleaded guilty in February to one federal count each of conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms. Guerrero pleaded to one count each of conspiracy and producing false identification documents.

A third defendant, Nestor Perez, 32, of Van Nuys, also pleaded guilty to two federal charges, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 19 in Los Angeles federal court.

The trio admitted worked together on a five-year scheme to create fake IDs from multiple states, including California, Wyoming and Pennsylvania. Prosecutors said Hernandez received orders from customers over text message, and then told Perez and Guerrero who created the documents at a Van Nuys apartment solely used to create counterfeit documents.

Once the IDs were ready, Hernandez and Guerrero coordinated pickup times and locations, and received cash from the customers.

On January 7, the defendants had 21 fake passports, 68 social security cards, five green cards, 135 driver's licenses, and about 1,000 fake authentication seals, according to the indictment. The three men were arrested on January 27.

City News Service contributed to this report.