Jan 6, 2009 6:49 pm US/Central
Ald. Munoz's Father Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison
Elias Munoz Involved In International Fake ID Scheme
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The father of 22nd Ward Alderman Ricardo Munoz was sentenced to four years in prison Tuesday for his role in an international fake ID scheme. The scheme run by an organized crime family in Mexico was first exposed by the CBS 2 Investigators. Pam Zekman reports on why he was given such a stiff sentence.
Sixty-three-year-old Elias Munoz had previously plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to produce false identification documents.
In arguing for a prison sentence, prosecutors revealed Tuesday that some of the hundreds of thousands of fake IDs Munoz helped produce were used by others to pull off a $250,000 bank fraud and a $5 million eBay scam.
A salesman at the Little Village said they bought the cards at a Little Village shopping mall where other salesmen signaled they had fake IDs for sale including the drivers licenses, residency cards and social security cards CBS 2 bought for about $300 in cash.
The government said most customers were taken to a now closed photo shop for pictures to be taken by Munoz.
Two years ago Munoz told CBS 2 he didn't care if salesmen transacted business inside his store.
"They bring money in here and I work with them," Munoz said.
Prosecutors said they brought in $180,000 worth of business a year for Munoz, who charged $10 for each picture.
Additionally, prosecutors showed the judge undercover video taken by federal agents inside the photo shop of a sale being made while Munoz stood nearby.
In court Tuesday, a tearful Munoz said he was sorry and asked for forgiveness but the judge agreed with prosecutors that Munoz played an instrumental role in the scheme and sentenced him to four years in prison.
After he serves time, Munoz will be turned over to immigration officials for deportation hearings.
Since this is a felony conviction, and he was not here legally, he will most likely be deported.
Ald. Munoz was not in court and had no comment.
Dozens of others were charged, including the three men who orchestrated the multi-million dollar a year operation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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