Tempe Man Indicted on False Documents Charges

(Phoenix, Ariz. – March 9, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the indictment of Gabriel Hernandez, 37, of Tempe, on charges related to manufacturing false identification for illegal immigrants.

Hernandez was indicted on one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, three counts of trafficking in the identity of another and seven counts of forgery. The indictment alleges that Hernandez participated in an organized enterprise called the “DJ Manicero” which sold counterfeit documents. An investigation conducted by the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force revealed Hernandez sold resident alien cards, Social Security cards and other identification documents under false names to undercover officers.

If convicted of all charges, Hernandez faces up to 49 years in prison. Hernandez will make his initial appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court on Saturday, March 10. Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson is prosecuting this case.

The Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force (AFIT) was created in 2005 to investigate and prosecute criminal organizations that create fraudulent documents, including driver’s licenses, birth certificates and immigration papers for illegal immigrants. The AFIT consists of state, local and federal law enforcement agencies including: Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Arizona Department of Gaming, Arizona Department of Homeland Security, Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Office of Inspector General/Department of Transportation, Arizona Department of Economic Security, Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, Arizona Department of Corrections, Phoenix Police Department,

U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Department of State and Immigration Customs Enforcement.