Family Members Arrested In Little Village Fake ID Sting
CHICAGO (STMW) - Five family members were among seven people arrested by federal agents Thursday morning for allegedly running an operation that manufactured and sold fake IDs in the Southwest Side Little Village neighborhood while paying a local street gang for protection.
The investigation, in which undercover agents and cooperating witnesses purchased bogus documents, included the purchase of a software program used to manufacture illicit driver's licenses, Social Security and residency cards, as well paper to make such IDs, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office.
Jorge Castillo, 48, and his son, Jorge Castillo-Arroyo, 24, were charged in a criminal complaint with possessing and transferring materials to produce false identification documents, the release said. They allegedly sold the program for $3,000 at an apartment in the 3200 block of West 65th Place, instructed the undercover agents in its use, and provided sample paper.
Arrested and charged in separate complaints with transferring false ID documents were Francisco "Mini" Castillo, 42; Juan "Pancho" Castillo-Santos, 37; Jesus "Moco" Castillo-Luciano, 23; Jacobo "Chiquis" Velasquez, 35; and Porfirio Alvarez-Cortez, age unknown, all of Chicago. Jorge Castillo, Francisco Castillo and Juan Castillo-Santos are believed to be brothers, while Castillo-Arroyo and Castillo-Luciano are believed to be sons or nephews.
All seven, who are believed to be in the country illegally, will appear at 9:30 a.m. Friday before Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow in U.S. District Court. If convicted they face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 each.
According to affidavits, the investigation began in March 2009 when ICE agents received information about a group known as the "Avers Crew" selling fake IDs in the vicinity of 26th and Avers. Undercover agents purchased Permanent Resident and Social Security cards from a street vendor allegedly working for the suspects on four occasions before arresting the vendor, who agreed to cooperate, the release said.
Agents learned that "Mini" and "Pancho" had run the Avers Crew since at least 2008, and at any given time, 10 or more individuals on the street near 26th and Avers solicited customers, the complaint alleges. Vendors worked in shifts, generally from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"Mini" and "Pancho" exercised control over the area by paying a "street tax" of $400 to $600 a week to the Two-Six Nation gang to allow their vendors to work. The charges allege anyone who did not work for the Avers Crew would be subject to beatings by gang members if they tried to sell counterfeit IDs in the area.
The vendors typically charged $80-$150 for a set of documents and kept any profit after paying $50 per set to crew leaders. A set consisted of a Social Security card and photo ID card, such as a Permanent Resident card, state ID or driver's license, the complaint alleges, Vendors sold five or more sets per day on average.
Francisco Castillo and Juan Castillo-Santos allegedly manufactured the counterfeit documents in "mills" using computers, printers, scanners, laminators and other equipment.
In April 2007 and again in September 2008, ICE agents dismantled similar rings operated by the "St. Louis" and "Albany" crews, which controlled the fake document trade near in the areas where those avenues intersect with 26th Street in Little Village, the release said.
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