United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown

Eastern District of California

Monday, November 02, 2009

Docket #: 1:09-cr-00190 OWW

BAKERSFIELD MAN SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR PRODUCING FAKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND GREEN CARDS

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that RAMIRO BRISENO-LOPEZ, aka Johnny, 38, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Oliver W. Wanger to 15 months in prison for producing fraudulent immigration and social security documents. BRISENO-LOPEZ pleaded guilty to the charge on August 24, 2009.         & nbsp;      

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with assistance from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Anyone who knowingly and indiscriminately sells phony identity cards is putting the security of our communities and even our country at risk,” said Michael Toms, resident agent in charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Bakersfield. “Counterfeit documents can potentially be used by dangerous criminals and others who are attempting to obscure their identities and cover their tracks.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Ian Garriques, who prosecuted the case, between December 2007 and May 2009, BRISENO-LOPEZ produced and sold numerous fake social security and immigration “green cards” to Bakersfield customers. According to court documents, BRISENO-LOPEZ met customers in public locations, made the cards at his home, and then returned to sell the completed cards to customers. ICE agents executed a federal search warrant at BRISENO-LOPEZ’s residence on May 7, 2009 and uncovered fraudulent document-making items, implements, and supplies.

In sentencing BRISENO-LOPEZ, Judge Wanger commented that BRISENO-LOPEZ engaged in the criminal conduct for two of the six years he was illegally present in the United States.