LILBURN, Ga.,None — On Wednesday, Federal investigators announced they broke up a massive operation that bought and sold identities on the black market using the Postal Service and a secret code.
Channel 2 Action News received a tip Wednesday morning about police activity around a home in Lilburn. When Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh arrived, she discovered it was part of a national operation rounding up identity thieves.
Federal agents asked Channel 2 Action News not disclose the location of the home they raided other than it was in a subdivision off Burns Road.
Channel 2 had the only camera there as Homeland Security agents and U.S. Postal Inspectors surrounded the home. Several undercover agents carted off boxes of evidence.
This raid is linked to what's been dubbed "Operation Island Express." To get more details, Kavanaugh participated in a teleconference with officials in Washington D.C.
"The indictment unsealed today alleges that from April 2009 to December 2011, defendants operated an extensive black market identity fraud ring," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said.
The U.S. Justice Department said thieves stole the identities of hundreds and hundreds of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens.
Investigators said the fraud ring was based in Puerto Rico but had brokers and runners in Lilburn, Ga., and 12 other states.
The ring was a mail order operation selling birth certificates and corresponding Social Security cards for $700 to $2,500 a set.
They said the suppliers and brokers used code words over the phone so it sounded like they were ordering clothing or uniforms.
They would say "skirt" when seeking a female's identification, "pants" for male and used sizes when referring to age.
"Within a matter of literally days, it would be FedEx'ed back to the customers in the continental United State," director of Immigration, Customs Enforcement John Morton said.
Officials said they arrested a total of 50 people, calling it one of the single biggest fraud cases they've seen.
They said it was well organized and the suspects offered exchanges if customers were not satisfied.
Agents arrested people inside the Lilburn home, but asked Channel 2 Action News hold off on releasing their names as this investigation continues.
WSBTV
