By Milt Gun / New England News Service
Sunday, September 18, 2005
BOSTON -- Federal authorities this week filed criminal complaints against a Framingham couple accused of running a "same-day service" producing fake resident alien "green cards."
Jaime Costa and Marie Antonia, whose last name was unknown at the time the criminal complaints were filed, both of 37 Freeman St., Framingham, are accused of making and selling counterfeit green cards, which are work permits, at their 37 Freeman St., Framingham, residence.
The criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court by federal agents allege the couple sold seven phony green cards, each bearing submitted photos, fictitious names and false Social Security numbers, to undercover government witnesses.
According to a federal agent's affidavit attached to the complaint, a confidential informant advised agents that Costa was running a business producing bogus green cards within hours after accepting orders. Costa's phone number was provided, and the agents arranged for an informant to contact Costa and arrange for the production of a counterfeit green card and Social Security card.
The phone conversation was recorded and the informant was outfitted with a concealed tape recorder he wore to an April 20 meeting at Costa's residence. During the meeting, Costa obtained the name, date of birth and signature of the purported client and took a photograph of him with an instant camera. The finished cards were provided six hours later to the informant by a woman at the residence who explained that Costa was unavailable.
The woman, who identified herself as Marie Antonia, collected the agreed-upon $120 payment and walked the client to the door. A similar second controlled purchase, this time for three sets of cards with photos provided by the government informant, occurred on May 4 when Maria provided the finished cards seven hours later and collected $360, federal authorities said. A third purchase for three more fake cards occurred July 25 by Costa in the presence of Maria Antonia.
Both suspects are expected to appear before a federal magistrate later this month, accused of knowingly transferring illegally manufactured government identification documents.
