FRESNO, Calif. -- United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced that on Thursday, a federal grand jury returned a multiple-count indictment charging Salomon Rodriguez and Veronica Capitaine-Rosales with possession, transfer, production, and sale of fraudulent United States immigration and social security identification documents out of Fresno and Tulare Counties.

Rodriguez and Capitaine-Rosales are scheduled to appear in court before United States Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck, Friday at 2 p.m.

The case is the product of an extensive investigation by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Ian Garriques and Susan Phan, who are prosecuting the case, the indictment alleges that between January 26 and October 6, 2009, Rodriguez and Capitaine-Rosales possessed, transferred, produced, and sold fraudulent immigration and identification documents including United States social security cards and alien registration receipt cards (commonly known as “green cards”).

“Anyone who knowingly and indiscriminately sells phony identity cards is putting the security of our communities and even our country at risk,” said Brian Poulsen, resident agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Fresno. “Counterfeit documents can potentially be used by dangerous criminals and others who are attempting to obscure their identities and cover their tracks.”

According to documents filed in court, Rodriguez and Capitaine-Rosales would meet prospective purchasers in public locations, take their pictures and biographical details, return to their own residence to produce the documents, and then provide the purchaser with the fraudulent documents. ICE agents executed a federal search warrant at Rodriguez’s residence on October 6, 2009 and uncovered alleged fraudulent document-making items, implements, and supplies.

If convicted, Rodriguez and Capitaine-Rosales face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.

The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.