May 29, 2007 11:40 pm US/Central
Alderman's Father Facing Charges In Fake ID Ring
Authorities Say Elias Munoz Admitted Creating Fake Documents
by Pam Zekman
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The father of a Chicago alderman is facing charges Tuesday night -- accused of participating in a nationwide ring that made millions of dollars a year selling phony documents in a Little Village shopping center.
In an exclusive report, the 2 Investigators first exposed how the ring operated more than a year ago -- and showed the role Elias Munoz's photo shop played in the alleged scheme.
Federal investigators are charging that at that photo shop, 22nd War Ald. Ricardo Munoz's father took more than pictures. They say he admitted making about $300 a day taking the pictures and creating fake documents.
Last May inside Foto Munoz an undercover CBS 2 investigative producer ordered a fake Michigan drivers license and Social Security card from an ID peddler for $300, with pictures conveniently taken by shop owner Elias Munoz.
When asked if he was a part of that illegal operation, Elias Munoz said, "No, I'm not part of anything. I'm a photographer and that's it."
It was a position echoed by his son, Ricardo Munoz, who said his father chases the ID peddlers out of his shop.
Now federal agents did the same thing CBS 2 Investigators did, ordering fake drivers licenses, Social Security cards and immigration documents, all inside the photo shop.
In a high-profile raid federal agents last month arrested about a dozen of the 22 people charged in the scheme and conducted a search of Munoz's photo shop.
Found in the raid, according to an affidavit released Tuesday, were more than 2,500 blank state and federal ID cards, more than 800 order forms for fake IDs, and a large display of fake IDs available.
Elias Munoz could not be reached for comment Tuesday night but last year he seemed to admit to the 2 Investigators that he had a relationship with the ID peddlers.
"They bring money in here and I work with them," he said.
When reached Tuesday night Ald. Munoz told CBS 2 he had no comment on the charges, on the advice of his father's attorney.
His father is expected to appear in federal court Wednesday morning.
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