Leader of Fake Immigration Document Ring Sentenced in Virginia

The leader of a fake identification ring that provided false documents for people in the country illegally was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison Tuesday.

Manuel Hidalgo Flores, 40, operated in multiple states, including a cell in Richmond, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He pled guilty to conspiracy to engage in racketeering, interference with commerce by robbery and conspiracy to launder money. Flores will face deportation once he is released from prison, according to U.S. Attorney Dana Boente.

In the enterprise, Flores would provide counterfeit green cards, Social Security cards, out-of-state identification cards and more. A client would generally pay approximately $150 for a set of fraudulent identification documents 

Flores was identified as a suspect during an October 2013 investigation. Flores had planned to threaten or assault a rival fake ID operator in Richmond during a transaction that was secretly under surveillance and broken up by law enforcement.

Eleven other defendants are awaiting sentencing in the case.