Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho, a 41-year-old citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to six months in custody for conspiracy to transfer false identification documents, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced on Mar. 31.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address the creation and distribution of counterfeit identity documents among individuals residing illegally in the United States. These actions are part of broader initiatives aimed at protecting public safety and upholding immigration laws.
VerHey said, “Vasquez-Mencho deserved to be prosecuted and punished. It is bad enough that he has repeatedly violated our immigration laws by crossing the border without permission. Worse than that, once he got here, he operated an illegal document business that allowed others like him to illegally obtain employment and claim taxpayer-supported public services. This conduct must stop.”
According to prosecutors, Vasquez-Mencho was involved with two other defendants in advertising, manufacturing, and selling fraudulent Social Security cards, Permanent Resident cards, and other false identification documents during 2024 and 2025 in Grand Rapids. The scheme enabled recipients—other undocumented immigrants—to gain employment or access services reserved for citizens or legal residents. Vasquez-Mencho’s main role was delivering these counterfeit documents and collecting payments from buyers.
This is not Vasquez-Mencho’s first encounter with U.S. immigration authorities; after previously being located twice in the country illegally—once departing voluntarily and once removed by officials—he will again be removed to Guatemala following his sentence.
Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations Detroit said: “This sentencing sends a clear message: Homeland Security Investigations will aggressively pursue and dismantle criminal organizations that traffic in fraudulent identification documents and exploit our immigration system. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities, uphold the integrity of our nation’s laws, and ensure that those who undermine public safety face the full consequences of their actions.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Grand Rapids office as part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide federal initiative led jointly by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security under Executive Order 14159 Protecting the American People Against Invasion—and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Daniels.
The DOJ serves as the principal federal agency for law enforcement according to its official website. The department includes more than 115,000 employees operating across all states as well as internationally according to its official website. It maintains operations throughout over fifty countries according to its official website while focusing on upholding rule of law and safeguarding civil rights as detailed online. Garland assumed leadership as Attorney General on March 11th, 2021 according to its official website, overseeing key prosecutions including cases such as Oklahoma City bombing during his tenure as reported online.
