Leader of Massive ‘Green Card’ Counterfeiting Ring Gets 6 1/2 Years

The leader of a ring that printed millions of false identity documents for illegal immigrants was sentenced in federal court Monday to 6 1/2 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors said the bogus documents forged by Juan San German, 34, and his cohorts have turned up in 74 cities in 32 states and the Virgin Islands.

Operating out of two apartments and a garage shop near MacArthur Park, the ring turned out an assortment of documents, including immigration “green cards,” Social Security cards and state identity cards.

Immigration and Naturalization Service agents were able to infiltrate the operation by posing as false document vendors. Over a three-month period, the undercover agents bought tens of thousands of documents from San German and his associates.

After members of the ring were arrested in 1998, the INS seized than 2.1 million fraudulent documents from a public storage unit used by the ring.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Robert E. Dugdale said the cache was three times greater than the largest previous seizure in the United Sates.

Inside the ring’s garage, investigators found a commercial-grade printing press, a platemaking machine, printing plates and equipment for making false identification papers.

San German, a Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty on Oct. 4 to four felony counts.

Citing the huge number of fraudulent documents produced and sold by the ring and San German’s role as its leader, U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson on Monday added 32 months to San German’s term under federal sentencing guidelines.

The defendant also faces sentencing in Texas, where he was convicted of similar charges.

Ten confederates, all Mexican nationals, pleaded guilty late last year and were sentenced to terms of up to five years behind bars. Three others are fugitives.