Producing fake documents big U.S. business

Dave Montgomery

Forgers are making tens of millions of dollars -- possibly billions -- selling counterfeit Social Security cards, driver's licenses, immigrant registration cards and other papers to an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

The dominant forgery-and-distribution network in the United States allegedly is controlled by the Castorena family, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said. Its members emigrated from Mexico in the late 1980s and have allegedly used their printing skills and business acumen to capture a big piece of the booming industry.

Only trained experts can distinguish its fake identity documents from real ones, and the Castorena Family Organization, or CFO, as ICE officials call it, has spread to at least 50 cities in 33 states.

Click here to view full article from MercuryNews.com