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"This individual was selling false identification for $40 and $80, which is ridiculous."
The Norristown Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Montgomery County Detectives Unit and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement worked together to investigate Lopez's operation since first being alerted to the situation by Plymouth Township detectives in July.
On Friday Norristown police came in contact with a Hispanic male in possession of a fraudulent Resident Alien Card and social security card.
That informant reportedly told police that he obtained the identifications from a man on the 1200 block of Powell Street and paid $80 for the identification cards.
Police had the informant phone the suspect on Monday to arrange another transaction, while listening with the aid of a translator. They provided him with $80 of documented currency for the purchase.
Norristown detectives setup surveillance on Lopez's home and watched him make his way to Barbadoes Street to meet with the informant.
Police recovered one of the $20 bills they gave to the informant, a fraudulent Resident Alien Card and fraudulent social security card in the informant's name from Lopez.
Reports indicate that the social security number on the card was that of an Ohio man.
Several items of evidence showing the production of fraudulent identification cards were discovered in Lopez's home during a search after his arrest.
"Evidence supporting our theory of the crimes was seized," said Bono, who commended Off. Benjamin Lerman and Det. Raymond Emrich, as well as the other agencies assisting in the investigation.
Bono said Lopez's citizenship, how long he was in operation and other details are still being investigated.
"The investigation is by no means over," he said.
"It appears to be a very sophisticated operation. It's very possible he's been doing this for some time."
Bono warned that the fraudulent identification production could have other consequences.
"It is a security risk to this town and this nation that these identifications are so easily duplicated. There needs to be aggressive enforcement and prosecution of people in this business, and that goes way beyond undocumented people coming in this country," Bono said.
"The ramifications stretch into national security. It definitely needs to be addressed. It's not something Norristown police can do by themselves. We intend to reach out to any organization that can help us with furthering this investigation."
Contact Kelly Devine at kdevine@timesherald.com or 610-272-2500, ext. 204.
