NJ criminal alien sentenced to 2 years in prison for making fake green cards
CAMDEN, N.J. — A convicted felon Mexican national illegally present in the United States was sentenced to two years in federal prison Jan. 8 for his role in a scheme to produce and sell fake government identity documents. The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Domingo Luna, 34, aka “Morro,” of Camden, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez. Luna previously pleaded guilty in September to making fake identification documents and unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation, which are both felonies under federal law. Luna was arrested by HSI agents Dec. 12, 2013, and has been held in ICE administrative custody since that time.
“With this sentence, our message is clear: activities related to document and identity fraud will not be tolerated at any level,” said John P. Woods, acting special agent in charge of HSI Newark. “Fraudulent documents give people the appearance of lawful status and provide them access to opportunities which they are not entitled. HSI will continue to pursue those individuals who engage in behavior that threatens the safety of our communities.”
According to court documents, HSI agents learned that a man nicknamed “Morro” was producing and selling false and fraudulent U.S. Social Security cards, permanent residence cards and driver’s licenses from a location in Camden. From early to mid-December 2013, “Morro,” who was later identified as Luna, sold an undercover law enforcement officer two fake Social Security cards, a fraudulent permanent residence card and a Pennsylvania driver’s license. Luna took pictures of the officer with a digital camera and produced the documents at the Camden address.
At the time of his arrest, investigators found evidence of a sophisticated fraudulent document-making operation, including computer equipment, a digital camera, a laminating machine and at least 25 fake cards in Luna’s residence.
Luna was previously removed from the United States in May 2012 after he was convicted of felony aggravated assault with bodily harm in 2011. During his plea hearing, Luna admitted he willfully reentered the United States and made his way to New Jersey after that 2012 deportation.
In addition to the prison term, Luna was sentenced to three years of supervised release and faces removal from the United States following the completion of his sentence.
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