Emilio Camerena Guzman

AUTHORITIES AGGRESSIVELY TACKLING ISSUE OF
FRAUDULANT IDENTIFICATION CARDS

By Jon Mayhew
Publisher

LINCOLNTON -- A recently passed state law and local aggressive enforcement may make it harder for illegal immigrants to obtain federal documents, then sell them to fellow immigrants.
Case in point, authorities busted a Hispanic male late last week for trafficking in stolen identification cards.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Lt. Hal Kluttz identified the suspect as 33-year-old Emilio Camerena Guzman of 410 Hunsucker Road, Hickory. Guzman was arrested in the parking lot of the Colonial Village Apartments in Lincolnton. He is charged with one count of trafficking in stolen identities and three counts of identity theft.

"The suspect was arrested after making arrangements to make false identification for an unidentified illegal immigrant," said Lt. Kluttz. "Guzman met with the person on one day to take a picture and returned the next day with a North Carolina Driver's License and number…. and a Social Security number and card for a price of $150."

Guzman was taken into custody at that time. Authorities found a large amount of cash, blank social security cards and other photos when Guzman was arrested.

Lt. Kluttz said that the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office would aggressively pursue and arrest those undocumented immigrants that are working illegally in Lincoln County under a false name using fraudulent identification and someone else's social security number to gain employment.

"If these individuals are using false names supported with fraudulent identification to work, then it is also feasible that they will use the same false name and supporting documentation to operate a motor vehicle illegally," said Kluttz, "and when being issued citations during a traffic stop and/or if they are arrested for other crimes. Imagine the problems that would be created if hundreds of persons were processed through our Courts and Jails under fraudulent names using fraudulent identification."

While state law makes it illegal to possess certain forms of fraudulent identification, a relatively new law passed makes it a Class E Felony and allows local law enforcement to arrest those individuals trafficking or actually making and selling these fraudulent identification documents for profit.