Livingston man faces 50 felony counts in fake ID case

A 38-year-old Livingston man has been charged with 50 felony counts on suspicion of manufacturing bogus government identification cards after an undercover sting operation with the Department of Motor Vehicles, authorities said Friday.

Charges were announced Friday by the Merced County District Attorney’s Office against Abraham Ramirez Cruz, District Attorney Larry Morse II said in a news release.

“Identity theft and creation of false government documents have grown dramatically in recent years,” Morse said in a statement. “These are serious crimes, and we will work with allied agencies to aggressively pursue and punish those engaged in these frauds.”

According to prosecutors, Ramirez Cruz is charged with 50 felony counts of manufacturing and distributing false government documents, forging and counterfeiting government seals, forgery of government documents, and selling deceptive identification documents. Ramirez Cruz is also charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of identification card manufacturing devices and materials.

If convicted, Ramirez Cruz could face about 10 years behind bars, prosecutors said.

“He told investigators he received some type of specialized training, had special computer software and many of the seals and various security features,” Deputy District Attorney Walter Wall told the Sun-Star.

Efforts to reach Ramirez Cruz by telephone Friday were unsuccessful.

The criminal charges are the product of an investigation conducted by the DMV with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“The California Department of Motor Vehicles will not tolerate fraudulent activity and is committed to investigating and pursuing criminal action against anyone caught counterfeiting identity documents,” DMV Investigations Chief Frank Alvarez said in a statement to the Sun-Star. “California DMV investigators worked closely with Homeland Security investigators in taking down this fraudulent document mill.”

Officials said an undercover DMV officer contacted Ramirez Cruz in February and March to buy identification cards.

“Cruz arranged to make the fake identification documents in multiple undercover operations,” prosecutors said in the statement.

Investigators had been tipped off in December to counterfeit documents being sold in the Madera area, DMV officials said.

The DMV officer sent Ramirez Cruz information to be printed on the IDs, including a picture, name and date of birth.

“The counterfeit ID was made by Ramirez Cruz and was ready the same day, and (arrangements) were made to meet at a nearby Walmart parking lot,” prosecutors said.

Ramirez Cruz delivered the bogus driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and permanent resident cards showing the driver was from California with a phony address, authorities said.

“After the exchange was made, Ramirez Cruz was detained by the officer,” prosecutors said. “He admitted creating the identification documents and told investigators he has been doing so for some time.”

Ramirez Cruz was arrested but released without being booked into jail, authorities confirmed.

DMV and Department of Homeland Security investigators later searched Ramirez Cruz’s home and found the equipment he is believed to have used to make the fake identification cards, including computers and identification blanks, prosecutors said.

Investigators seized more than 300 completed counterfeit documents, including Social Security cards, insurance cards, foreign election cards, birth certificates, U.S. Permanent Alien cards, and driver’s licenses from other states and countries, officials said.

No court dates had been scheduled as of Friday.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Livingston man faces 50 felony counts in fake ID case."