Gerard Ibarra, a 57-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for trafficking counterfeit identity documents from Kissimmee, Florida. U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton handed down the sentence after Ibarra pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents on September 25, 2017. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $5,752 in cash, directly traced to proceeds from the illicit document sales.
Ibarra, known locally as “Perfume Cuco,” sold fake Green Cards, Social Security cards, and Florida driver licenses to undocumented immigrants for $150 to $200 apiece. Federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) launched an undercover operation after receiving tips from local law enforcement in May 2017. During the sting, Ibarra sold a counterfeit Green Card and Social Security card to an undercover agent—leading to his arrest on August 16, 2017.
A search of Ibarra’s vehicle after his arrest uncovered a stash of 10 counterfeit Green Cards, 21 fake Social Security cards, and one counterfeit California driver license. Also seized: $5,752 in cash. Ibarra admitted to federal agents that he had been trafficking fraudulent IDs for about two years, estimating he’d sold approximately 2,000 documents. “Business was good,” he told investigators.
The probe quickly expanded beyond street-level sales. Authorities identified a supplier known only as “Jimmy”—later confirmed as 37-year-old Jaime Gaspar of Kissimmee. Gaspar was arrested on March 7, 2018, and charged via criminal complaint for his role in producing and distributing the counterfeit documents. Investigators found that Ibarra sent photos and personal data to Gaspar using a cellphone app, creating a digital paper trail that sealed the connection.
Forensic analysis of Gaspar’s phone—recovered from his bedroom—confirmed it was the same device used in the fraud scheme. The evidence showed repeated exchanges of images, templates, and payment details between the two men. The collaboration highlights a growing trend of organized, tech-enabled document fraud rings operating within immigrant communities.
“HSI places a high priority on investigating document and benefit fraud,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “This crime poses a threat to national security and public safety because it creates a vulnerability that may enable criminals and illegal aliens to gain entry to and remain in the United States.” The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina R. Downes, with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, ICE, and was a product of HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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