Posted on 12/08/2005 6:01:06 AM PST by AliVeritas
Law enforcement officials yesterday announced the dismantling of a major fake identity-document ring - exposed in The New York Sun on Monday. But hours after the press conference, dealers were back selling fake green cards and driver's licenses on the same Queens avenue that had been targeted in the bust.
A 19-month undercover investigation by federal and local officials concluded this week with the seizure of more than 5,000 forged documents and the indictment of 21 individuals. Among those arrested was the dealer who last week sold this reporter a fake green card signifying permanent resident status.
The Queens district attorney, Richard Brown, pronounced the $1 million a year ring - which sold green cards, driver's licenses, and Social Security cards - out of business. "I think it's fair to say this particular operation, this enterprise, is effectively closed down," he said at a press conference yesterday.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
And where is the data base for potential employers to check the validity of SS #s they are given? And where is the political will to force the employers to check?
When I read this kind of story I think about the poor high school kids these days... life at 17 would have much worse without easy access to a fake ID. I remember even being told at the door to a club "I'm gonna let you in this time but get that ID touched up before next weekend or you can't come in."
Terrorism ruins another American institution...
Last week it was a law firm and now this. We don't have to worry about AQ causing the end of America when we're doing such a good job of it from the inside.
A severely harsh example needs to be made here. Identity theft and fraud are rampant in a society built on technology and innovation - what's wrong with this picture?
Amazing that journalists never seem to ask such questions. How many ID's were sold during the 19 month investigation? What efforts are being made to determine where they are being used, or to render them useless with a national database?
"And where is the data base for potential employers to check the validity of SS #s they are given? And where is the political will to force the employers to check?"
And how do you keep bad guys from accessing this data and using it for identity fraud?
We need something better than a SSN... Public key cryptography would do nicely, if the PKI could be run right.
Nonetheless, the open market for fraudulent documents on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens was busy yesterday afternoon, with employees of that ring now working for other criminals on the same Jackson Heights corner.And just prior to this, the DA was holding a press conference crowing that the fake ID ring was out of business. Mr. DA, there's a good word for you: Schmendrick...Within seconds of approaching the corner yesterday afternoon, a reporter was approached by two document dealers saying, "Social, Social."
Asked if he was afraid after the arrest of his colleagues, one of the dealers shrugged off the threat.
My son is a Freshman at NYU and believe me the fake IDS are still being made and used without any problems!
Employers are required to have 3 documents proving identity. The quality of these documents cannot be so good that they would pass the sniff test. Employers are the problem. Oh well, why does it matter, the ACLU will defend them.
One of the guys selling documents said he was a "modern day Robin Hood".
Business must be good - this guy was making $200 a day and left his job prepping salads and desserts to become a "document dealer".
We need to allow more of these "fraudulent" ID producers into the country. It will lead to increased competition and a cheaper "phony" ID. Isn't that the American way?
This is the most important aspect of illegal immigration in my opinion (along with the issue of voting). I understand some of the reasoning for a "guest worker" program, but how do you get around the fake document issue? Didn't ICE break up the largest document fraud ring in US history this past summer?
Fitz must be in charge.
"My son is a Freshman at NYU and believe me the fake IDS are still being made and used without any problems!"
That's reassuring.... drinking is never again as much fun as when you are not allowed yet. In contrast, at my last Superbowl party, the 10 of us left one beer out of a 12 pack - barely more than a beer each in 6 hours -its just not as enticing now that we are turning 40 and and trying to stay in good shape...or at least avoid bad shape.
LOL so true...I think I had 2 beers and I was at the Superbowl!
On the shelf right next to the security fence for our southern border.
Why not this. Employers access the data base and enter name and social security number of the job applicant. Their response is either 'valid' or 'invalid'. This would not prevent an illegal from working under someone else's name, but it would throw a monkey wrench into the phony ID business.
*snort*
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