The U.S. Department of Justice last week announced that it has arrested more than 60 people as part of what is described as an international identity fraud ring that spread across 17 states, including Pennsylvania.

Those arrested are accused of federal crimes involving the selling of Puerto Rican identification documents to people living in the United States.

Thirteen people were arrested in Puerto Rico. Others were arrested in Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Connecticut, Indiana and Georgia.

They're charged with identity trafficking and face potential prison sentences of up to 15 years, if convicted.

They're accused of selling fake names, as well as state identification cards, driver's licenses, birth certificates, voter cards and Social Security cards.

According to court documents, people in Puerto Rico were collecting ID documents from Puerto Rican residents and then people in the United States would sell the documents to people living here, often undocumented immigrants.

Those here in the U.S. were purportedly selling the fake identity documents sets for between $700 and $2,500.

Prosecutors say the U.S. broker would ask a customer for half of the fee upfront, which would then be sent to Puerto Rican documents suppliers. The supplier would, in return, mail back documents that fit the customer's gender and age. At that point, the customer would pay the other half of the fee to the broker, who would pocket the cash.

Prosecutors say those buying the documents were in some cases using the fake IDs to commit financial fraud or to try to get U.S. passports.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times: "Feds: Aurora man part of massive Puerto Rican ID theft ring," Matt Hanley, Jan. 11, 2012