A valid SS#, name, and date of birth=$1300 street value
Posted by MDT on April 20, 2008
48 people are now indicted as part of Wednesday’s identity theft raid at the Pilgrim’s Pride in Mount Pleasant. Immigration and customs officials confirmed that they’ve been looking into the scam for over a year.
Nearly 300 people in all were arrested in the pre-dawn raids at plants in 5 states. Authorities want to make it clear that the arrests were not random, and they had proof those in custody were working under someone else’s Social Security number.
“A good set of documents that had the right Social Security number and right name could run up to $1300,” said John Chakwin, Special Agent In Charge, Immigration & Customs Enforcement. “Its cost you more money for the right Social Security number and right name and date of birth. All the documents are provided to you, including drivers license, birth certificate. And they are all counterfeit.”
ICE agents said their investigation started when the victims of these identity theft came forward after such issues as they couldn’t get credit reports, and had problems with their taxes.
Garcia said it was well known that around 80% of the workers at Pilgrim’s Pride had fake identification. He also said the plant had to have known about it.
