A Brazilian man residing in Framingham, Massachusetts, was indicted yesterday, June 14, in connection with his alleged production and sale of counterfeit green cards and Social Security cards and for possessing document-making implements.
United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Matthew J. Etre, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Boston, announced that Eclair C. Teixeira, age 41, of 181 Hollis Street, Apt. #1, Framingham, Massachusetts, was charged in a four count indictment with manufacturing and transferring false U.S. identification documents, and for possessing document-making materials and equipment.
According to the indictment and other documents previously filed with the court, a confidential source cooperated with ICE Task Force agents in an undercover investigation.
It is alleged that through telephone calls, the source made arrangements to purchase from Teixeira fraudulent green cards and social security cards on three separate occasions.
On February 16, 2006, April 18, 2006 and May 18, 2006, the confidential source met with Teixeira at various locations in Framingham and provided Teixeira with photos, names and dates of birth to be used on the fraudulent documents.
Teixeira left with the items and information and entered an apartment building located at 181 Hollis Street in Framingham. The Brazilian operated his false document production business from an apartment he rented at this location.
On each occasion Teixeira returned to the meeting places providing the CS with the fraudulent documents. The police confidential source paid Teixeira a total of US$ 850 in cash for a total of 14 fraudulent identification documents, namely, green cards and social security cards.
Teixeira was among nine individuals arrested last week on federal charges of selling fraudulent U.S. identification documents. The arrests were the result of a week-long effort by the newly created ICE Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force – one of only ten such task forces in the nation.
Members of the Task Force include: ICE, the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department.
Teixeira, arrested on June 8, 2006, remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for June 16, 2006. If convicted, Teixeira faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to US$ 250,000.
Additionally, upon completion of any prison sentence imposed, Teixeira faces deportation to his native Brazil.
The case is being investigated by the ICE Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force whose members include: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette E.M. Leoney in Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit.