Richard A. Stack, Counterfeit Law Enforcement Credentials, New Mexico 2012

A Las Cruces man has been charged with producing counterfeit law enforcement credentials that could have potentially been used to gain access to secure government facilities, airports, and other facilities.

Richard A. Stack, 70, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Albuquerque on January 23, 2013, for producing false identification documents, specifically counterfeit Federal Air Marshal identification credentials and U.S. Secret Service identification credentials.

According to the indictment, Stack allegedly produced the counterfeit credentials on January 6, 2012, and January 9, 2012, and March 14, 2012. An undercover U.S. Secret Service agent was able to purchase the fake credentials from Stack.

“Counterfeit law enforcement credentials can be used by criminals, terrorists, and spies for illegal purposes, including penetrating our nation’s most secure government buildings, airports, and other facilities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee of the FBI. “I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service for their assistance in this investigation.”

“Richard Stack allegedly manufactured and sold counterfeit law enforcement credentials to an undercover U.S. Secret Service Agent,” said Resident Agent in Charge Richard Ferretti of the U.S. Secret Service. “These fake credentials could have allowed an unauthorized subject to gain access to federally protected facilities or aircraft and thus erode the public’s trust in law enforcement.”

Stack faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the three charges in the indictment. An arraignment date for Stack has yet to be scheduled.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon K. Stanford is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Resident Office of the U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from the New South Wales Police in Australia, the Boston Division of the FBI, the Norfolk Resident Office of the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration in Dallas, Texas, and the Austin, Texas, Police Department.

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