Yesterday News 4 was the only station on the scene when local and federal authorities broke up what they allege is a counterfeit document ring.
Three Mexican men, in this country illegally, are now facing charges of making and selling fake green cards, driver's licenses, and social security cards. Fifteen others were taken into custody not on criminal charges, but for being in this country illegally.
They'll probably be deported, but deportation hearings typically can take anywhere from three to five months. That's a long time to sit in custody and worry about your future, but I guess its the risk they're willing to take for economic opportunity.

The Feds say their investigation is ongoing so they wouldn't reveal how long the fake documents were in production. Nor could they tell me how widespread is the problem of illegal aliens in St. Louis. That made me wonder how much of a priority it is for ICE, but then again it may be they just don't have the figures, given the underground nature of the population.

Kudos to Maryland Heights P.D., though. Their tip led to the bust.

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