Terry Goddard Announces ID Theft Indictments

(Phoenix, Ariz. – September 29, 2005)  Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced indictments against seven defendants arrested September 15 following an investigation conducted by the Governor’s Fraudulent ID Task Force.

The State Grand Jury returned indictments against the following defendants:

  • Carlos Benitez Lopez, a/k/a Benitez Carlos, 24, indicted on one count of  illegally conducting an enterprise, one count of trafficking in the identity of another, three counts of forgery and one count of unlawful possession of an access device. 
  • Hector Romero, 28, indicted on one count of illegally conducting an enterprise and three counts of forgery. 
  • Gloria Hernandez Alvarado, a/k/a Gloria Maria Alvarado, 35, indicted on one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, two counts of  trafficking in the identity of another, and six counts of forgery.  
  • Jose Angel Tagle-Reynoso, 23, indicted on one count of illegally conducting an enterprise.  
  • Jose Luis Tagle-Santos, 45, indicted on one count of illegally conducting an enterprise.  
  • Carlos Tagle-Reynoso, a/k/a Fernando Fuentes-Fuentes and Jovani Fuentes, 21, indicted on one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, six counts of forgery, one count of trafficking in the identity of another person or entity, one count of attempted fraudulent schemes and artifices, and one count of unlawful possession of an access device.  
  • Karen Teran-Sosa, 20, indicted on one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, four counts of forgery, one count of trafficking in the identity of another person or entity, one count of attempted fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of possession of a narcotic drug, and one count of unlawful possession of an access device. 

All of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on October 5 in Maricopa County Superior Court.

The ID Theft Task Force conducted an eight-week investigation when undercover officers were able to purchase dozens of false identifications and other documents. These fake documents can be used to facilitate violent human trafficking and other crimes.

The ID Theft Task Force is made up of agents and investigators from the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Economic Security, Department of Public Safety, Motor Vehicle Division, Liquor Licenses and Control, Corrections, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol. The Task Force’s work is coordinated through the Arizona Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center based in Phoenix.  

Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson is prosecuting these cases.