Santos Hernandez

Three men are facing charges today in what the Lee County Sheriff’s Office is calling one of the largest counterfeiting busts in Lee County and say the operation had been in business for nearly five years. Several agencies participated in the investigation that resulted in the three people charged with manufacturing counterfeit immigrant documents.

Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit, the U.S. Secret Service, Immigration and customs Enforcement ane the Cape Coral Police Department served warrants on may 12 after a six-month investigation they called Operation Fake ID.

The following were arrested and charged:

– Santos Hernandez, 35, of 323 Carol Drive, Fort Myers, charged with fraud and sale/manufacture of stolen ID.

– Juan Martinez, 29, of 323 Carol Drive, Fort Myers, charged with fraud and sale/manufacture of stolen ID.

Juan Martinez

– Santos Flores, 58, of 323 Carol Drive, Fort Myers, charged with fraud.

Officials said the operation targeted the manufacturing of counterfeit immigration documents including Social Security cards, driver licenses, passports and resident alien cards, officials said.

The investigation revealed the house at 4224 Ballard Road was the “ordering” house and the house located at 323 Carol Drive was the location where the fraudulent documents were being produced.

Officials said that evidence seized during the search included computer systems and printers used to manufacture counterfeit documents, numerous counterfeit documents, ink pads/cutting boards and blank Social Security cards.

Santos Flores