Financial Crime World

Title: Fifty Charged in Puerto Rico for Identity Theft and Financial Crime Conspiracy

Operation Island Express Takes Down Massive Identity Theft Scheme

Washington, D.C. - In a significant blow against identity theft and financial crimes, 50 individuals have been charged in an extensive investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Operation Island Express, a joint effort with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, unraveled a vast black market identity fraud ring operating across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Speakers:

  • John Morton, ICE Director
  • Lanny A. Breuer, Assistant Attorney General, Justice Department’s Criminal Division
  • Rosa E. Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico
  • Guy Cottrell, Chief Postal Inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
  • Scott P. Bultrowicz, Director, U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS)
  • Rick Raven, Acting Chief, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)

Indictment Alleges Identity Theft Conspiracy (April 2009 - December 2011)

The one-count indictment accuses defendants of a conspiracy to commit identification fraud involving trafficking the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and their corresponding identity documents. Defendants were arrested throughout Puerto Rico and the United States and will appear in court in their respective jurisdictions.

Uncovering the Identity Fraud Ring

Suppliers in Savarona, Caguas, Puerto Rico

Operation Island Express exposed a massive identity fraud ring. The ring consisted of suppliers, identity brokers, and mail and money runners. The suppliers obtained personal identifying information and government-issued identity documents from Puerto Rican citizens in Savarona, Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Identity Brokers and Customers

Identity brokers from various U.S. cities solicited customers, selling stolen Social Security cards and Puerto Rico birth certificates for amounts ranging from $700 to $2,500 per set. Some identity brokers assumed Puerto Rican identities themselves and participated in the trafficking operation.

Customers generally obtained identity documents to assume Puerto Rican U.S. citizenship and obtained additional identification documents, such as legitimate state driver’s licenses. Some customers aimed for financial fraud attempting to obtain U.S. passports.

Investigative Agencies’ Collaboration

The joint effort between ICE HSI Chicago office, USPIS, DSS, and IRS-CI offices in Chicago, with assistance from various offices around the country, the National Drug Intelligence Center - Document and Media Exploitation Branch, and the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2), led to the dismantling of the identity theft ring.

Supporting Agencies

The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section and the support of various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

Victims and Public Information

A website will be established to provide information to potential victims and the public. Individuals believe their identity may have been compromised can contact ICE via toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or visit www.ice.gov/tips.

Prevention and Reporting Identity Theft

Individuals who suspect they are victims of identity theft or seek prevention information can visit various government websites such as the Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft website, www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

An indictment is merely a formal accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.