Woman Arrested in Fake-Document Probe

After a two-month investigation, police and state investigators Wednesday raided a Reseda home that allegedly housed an operation that sold phony documents used to obtain California driver’s licenses.

Elis Santoyo, 23, was arrested at the home and booked on felony perjury charges for allegedly having two false driver’s licenses, authorities said. Arrest warrants were issued for nine other suspects.

The Los Angeles Police Department, Department of Motor Vehicles and other agencies moved on the house in the 19200 block of Cantara Street after learning that at least 45 driver’s licenses had been mailed to the address in the last two months, authorities said.

“This is one of the most sophisticated operations we’ve seen,” said DMV area commander Vito Scattaglia.

The operation allegedly sold fake “breeder documents”--typically birth certificates and Social Security cards--that allowed people to obtain a driver’s license or California identification card, investigators said.

The documents were dispensed in a backyard guest house, which had a waiting room with eight chairs.

Investigators took file cabinets and a computer from the guest house.

“We think the people made a payment here, got documents, went to the DMV and when the driver’s licenses were mailed here, they came back and made the rest of the payment to get the licenses,” said DMV investigator Randy Vera.

Vera also said the investigation may extend to a possible connection at the Hall of Records or the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

While the officers were going through the home and the guest house, at least seven people showed up.

They were allowed to leave after being questioned.

Val Paniccia, deputy commander of the LAPD’s Valley Bureau, said desktop computer technology makes it relatively easy to forge government documents.

“It’s sad we can’t make a driver’s license that can’t be duplicated,” said Paniccia, as he peered into the waiting room. “I just wish the courts would be tougher on this type of crime because the drivers with these licenses can go out and kill people.”