Virginia Man, Manuel Garcia-Rojas, Pleads Guilty In Fake ID Case

A man in Virgina pleaded guilty on Friday to working a multi-state fake identification operation and planning to steal a rival company's equipment, the Washington Post reported.

Manuel Garcia-Rojas, 28, pleaded guilty to racketeering and attempted robbery in U.S. District Court. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge, the Post said. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31.

As part of a plea deal, three additional charges were dropped.

Garcia-Rojas was indicted last year along with nine other defendants, who are all scheduled for trial on June 2.

Prosecutors allege Garcia-Rojas was working for a fake ID organization based in Mexico with operations in Virginia, Arkansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island. His main duty was to solicit illegal immigrants for fake documents, including social security cards and green cards, priced anywhere from $120 to $250 per set.

According to the indictment, the U.S. operations were directed by Hildago Flores, who instructed cell runners to send the money to Mexico. Financial records show over $300,000 was sent back between January 2012 and October 2013.

Additionally, federal officials claim the organization used violence to maintain business. Garcia-Rojas and three of his co-defendants were accused of trying to assault a rival ID maker in Richmond and steal his equipment. However, the attack was prevented due to a traffic stop, prosecutors say.

The illegal organization allegedly began in 2008, according to the indictment. Before it was taken down in 2010, runners allegedly wired $1 million to Mexico. One defendant was convicted of killing a rival ID maker in Arkansas and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

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