I-Team: Fake Documents Pose Threat To Economy, National Security
BOSTON (CBS) - A passport, a visa, and a driver's license are all examples of documents that public safety officials use to maintain security. But what happens when the person on the document isn't the same as the person holding it?
The I-Team found forgeries are becoming more sophisticated. This is creating a serious public safety concern as fears of terrorism continue to mount.
Chelsea police have seized dozens of fake documents that claim to be from countries across the globe. Detective Rosie Medina has seen these forgeries get better over the years. "Now you see holograms. Now you see scanned phones. Before it was just attached pictures, now you see them more sophisticated."
Better forgeries make it hard for law enforcement to maintain public safety. "Unless you have a way of checking with that country, or something to compare it to, you are not going to know it's fake," said Medina.
The I-Team obtained new data from U.S Customs and Border Protection which reveals their personnel stopped almost 14,000 people who tried to get into the country with fake papers last year.
But that is just part of the problem. Many illegals, often criminals, sneak into the country and then get phony documents once they are here.
Those people might look for someone like Leonel Sanchez of Chelsea to help them appear legitimate. Homeland Security investigators nabbed him for producing false identification documents. Sanchez pled guilty to bribing registry officials to obtain fake driver's licenses. He will soon start serving time in a federal prison.
Federal officials say actions like those of Sanchez can create a real threat to public safety. Consider that a driver's license is acceptable identification to board a domestic flight.
"Obviously the largest concern is the public safety, and the potential for terrorism issues," according to Bruce Foucart, the top HSA official in Boston. "People will use these documents in very nefarious ways, and we've seen it again and again and again."
And that's what happened on a day no American will ever forget, said Foucart. "There were 19 terrorists who had 26 real and fictitious documents and obviously everyone knows what happened at 9/11."
Public health threats, such as someone with an exotic disease, are also a concern. That cost to taxpayers can be huge once someone can create a fake identity. Foucart said people illegally tap into Social Security benefits, get on welfare with an EBT card, or obtain public housing assistance.
This robust market for documents requires authorities to have specialized training so they can easily spot a fake. "The criminal tries to say one step ahead of the United States government and law enforcement," said Foucart.
Send tips for the I-Team to iteam@cbsboston.com or call 617-779 TIPS
