CICERO MAN CHARGED IN
MAKING
FAKE I.D.s
Thursday, January 14, 2010 — A six-month investigation by Sheriff’s Police into a fake i.d. manufacturing operation has led to the arrest of a Cicero man, according to the office of Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.
Fernando Mendoza, 37, of the 1900 block of 55th Court, was charged with manufacturing fraudulent identification cards, unlawful possession of identification making equipment and possession of fraudulent identification cards.
Sheriff’s investigators received a tip last summer that Mendoza was selling fake i.d. cards. On at least three occasions, undercover investigators met Mendoza and he offered to provide them with a false Illinois driver’s license card in exchange for $130. Mendoza would then meet the undercover officers later and provide them with a fake i.d. card that investigators said very closely resembled an authentic Illinois driver’s license.
Mendoza was arrested Monday evening and at the time of arrest gave officers permission to search his residence, where it was believed he was making the identification cards. Seized from Mendoza’s residence were numerous items used to make the i.d. cards, including a computer, printer, scanner and plastic cards used as the i.d. cards.
Mendoza received at $50,000 bond and his next court date is January 19th at the Maywood Courthouse.
