INS Raid Shuts Down Counterfeiting Ring

The Immigration and Naturalization Service said Friday that it had shut down one of the nation’s largest phony document rings, arresting nine suspects--including the alleged ringleader--and seizing more than 141,000 counterfeit documents and a large cache of printing material.

In separate raids in Los Angeles and South Gate, the INS said more than 50 federal, state and local law enforcement officers went to businesses and residences linked to the ring, allegedly headed by Juan San German, 30, the proprietor of the Los Tomatoes restaurant in the 1900 block of West Olympic Boulevard.

Agents also seized equipment used to produce false documents, including a commercial grade offset printing press, a machine to make printing plates, and 40 plates used to produce counterfeit papers.