21 Charged In Alleged Little Village Fake ID Ring

Chicago Tribune:

A day after federal authorities announced a broad sweep that resulted in the arrest of dozens of immigrants here illegally, prosecutors said 21 people had been charged in connection with a ring that allegedly produced counterfeit identification documents in the Little Village neighborhood.

Those charged allegedly took part in what was known as the "St. Louis crew," producing fake identification and trafficking in the bogus documents around 26th Street and St. Louis Avenue, authorities said. Some of those arrested were expected to appear at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse today.

Authorities said agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement broke up the ring this week. Among its leaders were Manuel "Manny" Estrada, 31, and Jamie "Jarocho" Solis, 30, both of Chicago, they said.

The group allegedly stepped in to fill the gap left last year when federal authorities took down a large counterfeit identification organization in Operation Paper Tiger.

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