Two from Sierra Vista Indicted on False Document Charges

(Phoenix, Ariz. – March 19, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the indictment of Francisco Mendivil Villa, 52, and Dora Cano-Moreno, 43, both of Sierra Vista, on charges related to making false identifications for illegal immigrants. A third defendant was also indicted but has not yet been served with court papers.

Mendivil Villa was indicted on 12 counts of forgery, one count of conspiracy and four counts of trafficking in the identity of another person. Cano-Moreno was indicted on three counts of forgery, one count of conspiracy and one count of trafficking in the identity of another person. The indictment alleges that Mendivil Villa and Cano-Moreno worked together to create false documents for undocumented immigrants working for a large employer in the Sierra Vista area.

An investigation conducted by the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force revealed that Mendivil Villa and Cano-Moreno sold resident alien cards, Social Security cards and other identification documents under false names to undercover officers.

If convicted of all charges, Mendivil Villa faces up to 23 years in prison, and Cano-Moreno faces up to 12 years in prison. Assistant Attorney General John Evans 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.