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2 Arrested For Allegedly Making Illegal IDs In Eagle County

EAGLE, Colo. (CBS4) - Two men who were allegedly making illegal identification cards and selling them at cheap rates are behind bars.

Investigators in Eagle County say the two men told them they made about 100 pairs of IDs. When they were arrested, police say they got all the evidence they needed.

"You have your ID cutter, which makes them round on the edges," Jesse Mosher with the Eagle County Sheriff's Department said.

The investigation started with a simple tip from someone in the community.

"There was a group of people who were selling illegal fraudulent employment documents," Mosher said.

So a deputy went undercover in Carbondale to get a pair of his own.

"(He) purchased a fake Residency Alien card as well as a Social Security card. They charged $75 per identification card, so a total of $150," Mosher said.

Deputies originally contacted Sergio Garcia-Carranza, who was acting as a middle man. When he was arrested he told police Victor Vazquez-Cortes was the one who actually made the cards. Both are in the country illegally and still in the Eagle County Detention Center.

"From the time that we contacted them and handed over the cash it was approximately 4 to 4 1/2 hours before the IDs were turned over to our detective," Mosher said.

Investigators say the IDs are bad quality. It only cost the duo $2,000, including software for their set up, which included laminators, a basic printer, and two kinds of paper cutters.

"These are used to get employment."

But the sheriff's office isn't sure if there are more players in the illegal ID ring.

"The tip that we received was that there's a group of people. Actively under an investigation we would try and get the names of other individuals who were partaking in this activity. At this time these are the only two we've contacted."

The sheriff's office says it was the third fake ID manufacturing ring they've broken up in the past 4 years.

The two men not only face the charges in Eagle County, but will also have court dates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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