Restitution Sought From Loyo Named In Wisconsin Department Of Justice Lawsuit For Selling Credenciales USA Fake IDs

Hugo Loyo Cobos in background.

Photo by HNG

The Department of Justice in Wisconsin is seeking information on the whereabouts of major Wisconsin fake ID operator that targeted undocumented immigrants

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 30, 2011

Madison, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Department of Justice is trying to locate Hugo I. Loyo Cobos, a major Credenciales USA fake ID seller who fled into Mexico after his operation went out of business. Loyo is originally from the State of Veracruz in Mexico and was a member of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad 2006-2008 associated with the Chicago Mexican Consulate.
In early December, State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced that the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed an enforcement action against Credenciales USA, LLC and its owner, Hugo I. Loyo for the marketing and sale of fake international driver's licenses and state identification cards in Milwaukee County. Loyo Cobos sold IDs and International Driving Permits (IDP) for $200-$400 each, the IDP actually cost $10 for translation in associations that are allowed to legally offer them.
According to the DOJ complaint, Credenciales USA, LLC marketed and sold purported “International Driver's Licenses” and Wisconsin “identification cards” to Milwaukee-area undocumented consumers on Spanish language radio stations in La GranD 104.7 FM, news magazines and newspapers like El Semanario de Milwaukee. Loyo had a weekly one hour show in La GranD located in West Allis. The company marketed the cards as valid forms of identification, which they were not. In addition, neither Credenciales USA, LLC nor Loyo are authorized by the government to make or sell official identification cards.
“This company engaged in false and misleading practices in Wisconsin," Van Hollen said, “The Wisconsin Department of Justice joins the Federal Trade Commission in warning consumers to be wary of the sale of fraudulent identification cards. Drivers risk losing money and can even face criminal liability, if attempting to present fraudulent identification cards as valid driver's licenses."
According to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), only two organizations are authorized by the U.S. Department of State to legally issue and sell International Drivers' Licenses or Permits (“IDPs”) to U.S residents and they are the American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance.
The State seeks to have Credenciales USA, LLC and Loyo enjoined from further violations. It also seeks restitution, forfeitures and fines. The case was brought on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection and is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Nelle R. Rohlich.
Van Hollen in December did not specified, if state criminal charges will be filed against Loyo Cobos.
Today in Wisconsin, other businesses continue to use a similar fake ID. Some businesses in the predominately Hispanic South side have placed window signs advertising AmeraCard ID, which is not a real ID, but is sold as an alternative ID to undocumented immigrants. The AmeraCard is sold as a personal ID and could specify any state a purchaser wants at the MC Multiservices, 1010 S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. in Milwaukee and their Madison location. MC advertised the novelty fake ID in various publications and a small poster sign is displayed at the store front window. AmeraCard is provided by AmeraCard Enterprises Inc. from Stamford, Ct. Website at http://www.ameracard.com/
Loyo Cobos had sold Credenciales USA identification cards and international driving permits at its former location 3031 W. Lincoln Ave., which is now closed. In 2008, Loyo came under fire from a coalition of businesses, financial institutions, various non-profit organizations, including both Voces de la Frontera and the South Side Organizing Committee for trying to lure unsuspecting victims to buy worthless IDs with the state seal on them. Former State Representative, Pedro Colón from the 8th Assembly District had filed a complaint with the DOJ to investigate Loyo and Credenciales USA.
Loyo Cobos has said, the IDs sold by Credenciales USA were officially recognized by his company and Banco Amex International LLC, which was located in the same building. Loyo Cobos was the Chairman of Banco Amex International, and Mike Contreras was the President, according to business records. Both the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) previously stated, Banco Amex International was not legally registered or authorized to operate as a bank.
In early October 2008, Loyo Cobos had also tried to sell fake Mexican driver licenses in Wsiconsin to Mexican nationals in the U.S. with the help of Jorge Carassco Delgado from Global Search de México, S.A. de C.V. which operated Licencias Mexicanas (Mexican Licenses) in California.
Degaldo and Loyo offered fake Mexican licenses from the states of Veracruz, Aguascalientes, Hildago and Oaxaca for a price ranging between $160.00 and $180.00.
Before Licencias Mexicanas shut down after being exposed for selling fake licenses, their website twww.LicenciasMexicanas dot com on the internet Information stated a combine of more than 40,000 licenses from the previously mentioned Mexican states had been sold in the United States of America averaging a gross total of more than $6 million U.S. dollars in taxable earnings, since it was established. The Mexican licenses were sold without a driving or vision tests in the following states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey, and Texas, according to Licencias Mexicanas.
The Mexican government confirmed Delgado's Licencias Mexicanas was a bogus operation netting millions of U.S. dollars from undocumented immigrants and cheating the Internel Revenue Service and the U.S. government from reporting taxable earned income by Delgado and his accomplices.

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Zamarripa, Democrat Elected Wisconsin State Assembly Representative, Republicans Gained Control Of Legislature

JoCasta Zamarripa

Republicans gained control of the Wisconsin governors seat, the state legislature and U.S. Senate seat in midterm elections 2010.

By H. Nelson Goodson
November 3, 2010

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, JoCasta Zamarripa, 34, (Dem.) of Milwaukee was elected state representative of the Wisconsin 8th Assembly District with 4,287 votes, 86% with 100% Precints reporting. Zamarripa defeated Ramona Rivas (Indp.) who received 678 votes, 14% of the vote. Zamarripa became the first Latina to be elected to the state assembly and will be sworn to office in January. 
Zamarripa a Democrat from the predominately Hispanic community South side of Milwaukee will be working with a Republican majority assembly, which gained 25 Republican seats.
In other races, Ron Johnson, (Rep.) was elected U.S. Senator with 1,107,360 votes, 52%, with 98% of Precints reporting, defeating Russ Feingold (Dem.) who received 1,005,480 votes, 47%. Feingold was the incumbent U.S. Senator for 18 years in the Senate.
Scott Walker (Rep.) was elected Governor of Wisconsin with 1,101,554 votes, 52%, 97% Precints reporting, defeating Tom Barrett (Dem.) with 986,627 votes, 47% of the vote. Walker was also celebrating his birthday on election day. Without a college degree, Walker joins several governors in the U.S. without degrees. He will become the 45th governor of Wisconsin on January 3.
J.B. Van Hollen (Rep.) was re-elected Wisconsin Attorney General.
Wisconsin voters decided they wanted change and Republicans were able to gain enough seats to control both the state assembly and senate. It was a major defeat for Democrats in Wisconsin.
In the South side of Milwaukee, Latinos on Tuesday came out in large numbers, more than 4,960 voted. Latinos became a voting and political empowerment block. In Nevada, U.S. Senator Harry Reid (Dem.) was re-elected and drew 2-1 of the Hispanic vote giving him the election. Reid defeated Sharron Angle (Rep.), an extreme conservative who avoided the mainstream media. More Latinos voted in the Nevada midterm election than in 2008.
In Congress, Republicans were able to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives by controlling 243 seats and  Democrats with 192 seats. Majority is 218 seats of 435 seats. Republicans gained control of the House. The Republicans have won at least 60 seats in the House, making it the largest takeover in 60 years for Republicans. Exit polls indicated the major issue was the economy and that Democrats hadn't acted fast enough to fix it. But, Democrats take credit for preventing a catestrophic depression, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Dem.).
With Republicans in control of the House, immigration reform, and the DREAM Act will be difficult to gain support by newly elected Republicans who ran anti-immigrant campaigns. The re-election of Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (Rep.) in Wisconsin, who is well known for his anti-immigrant stance will most likely reignite the push for immigration enforcement nationally with the Republican controlled House. Sensenbrenner's 2006 failed push to criminalize anyone that aided an undocument immigrant caused a major backlash from Democrats and Latinos nationally costing Republicans to lose control of both the House and U.S. Senate in Congress. Sensenbrenner will most likely influence Wisconsin's Republican control legislature and governorship to enforce immigration laws for the next two years. Walker, the newly Republican elected Governor of Wisconsin has vowed to sign a similar Arizona SB 1070, if passed by the legislature. Although, the Arizona SB 1070 has been challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice and key portions of the state law have been blocked by a federal judge pending the outcome of the case. SB 1070 allowed Arizona state and police to require proof of legal status in the U.S. from people they suspect are illegally in the country during investigations or traffic stops.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrats maintained 51 seats, including 2 Independent seats, which side with Democrats and Republicans with 46 seats. Republicans gained 6 seats. Majority is 51 seats of 100 seats. Democrats maintained control of the U.S. Senate.
Republicans hold 26 governor seats, including Wisconsin and Democrats 14 seats, including California where Jerry Brown (Dem.) defeated Meg Witman (Rep.) and 9 state governorships still undecided.
President Barack H. Obama addressed the nation on Wednesday from the White House, for full speech and video click at following linked: http://bit.ly/cPsdWq

PEW Hispanic Center reports:

The Latino Vote in the 2010 Elections http://bit.ly/bch1NH

Latinos and the 2010 Elections: Strong Support for Democrats; Weak Voter Motivation http://bit.ly/bBsHFI

Editors note:

Have to love America and Democracy, despite the Republicans gaining control of the House, the Latino vote was crucial in Democrats maintaining control of the U.S. Senate. There are 19 million eligible Hispanic voters in the U.S. On Tuesday, we showed America we are a voting and political empowerment block. Republicans have to break down their barriers and begin working in issues affecting Latinos today as well as Democrats. Every Latino vote counts regardless for who you voted for in the end. We are all Americans and one country. ;)

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DNA From Victims Required By Franklin Police To Recover Stolen Vehicles

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 7, 2009

Franklin - Over the weekend, a 36-year-old man and a 38-year- old woman who reported an SUV stolen to Franklin police in late October received an unusual request by a traffic officer. Officer Steven Horn working under authority of his supervisor requested the couple to submit to a DNA cotton cheek swab in order to recover the SUV and for use to identify ownership of items found in the vehicle.
The SUV was found last week in the North side on N. 16th St. in Milwaukee, after it had been reported stolen a month and a half ago. Someone spotted the SUV parked on the street with several parking citations and notified Milwaukee police who then had it towed to the Franklin police lot for recovered vehicles.
The 36-year-old man said, that he met a woman in late October at a local bar, and afterwards both had gone to a motel in Franklin. When he woke up, the woman, keys and the SUV were gone. He called Franklin police to make a stolen vehicle report.
Both victims say that they felt like suspects when Officer Horn requested their DNA after the SUV Lexus 2000 was recovered. The SUV is worth about $10,000, according to the male victim.
The female victim who the SUV is registered to says she reluctantly submitted to the DNA cheek swab by Horn, but the male victim refused to take one. Although, Officer Horn confiscated a sports cap from the male victim found in the SUV for DNA testing.
When Franklin Police Chief Richard Oliva was contacted by electronic email concerning their unusual process to require victims of stolen vehicles to submit DNA, he wrote the following, "When testing for DNA which might come from a suspect, it is necessary to have DNA samples of people known to have been in the vehicle in order to eliminate them as suspects. Unidentified DNA is then compared to the database of subjects who have their DNA on file. The unidentified DNA Will also be compared to any future identified suspect believed to be responsible for the crime. Both victims (names withheld by request) DNA samples will not be entered into the state or national DNA database. This is not an unusual practice.
We use the State Crime Lab and only submit for more serious offenses. If a victim refuses to give DNA we are not taking advantage of the state of the art way of establishing a suspects presence at the scene of a crime. Consequently, we have to go back to other traditional methods of investigation," Chief Oliva said on Monday.
When asked if other police departments in the area have similar DNA policy to require victims to submit DNA samples? Also, if Franklin Police Department kept statistics of people prosecuted for vehicle thefts using their DNA process?
"I do not comment on other police departments, and sorry, I have no statistics," Chief Oliva responded.
With the lack of DNA prosecution statistics for vehicle thefts by Franklin police, taxpayers are left without any justification to spend city funds to process specimen analysis from victims. The DNA analysis from victims won't be entered into the DNA database as felons are, according to Oliva. Chief Oliva didn't explained where the victims' DNA would actually end up after the case is closed. Will the DNA be kept on file or discarded?
In Wisconsin, the average cost for DNA testing is $390.00 per case. The State Crime Laboratory received 2,226 DNA cases in 2006, and was only able to process 1,152 cases, compared to an expected backlog of more than 3,000 cases by 2010, according to a report by the State Crime Lab Resources for DNA Analysis. 
The state crime lab is required to analyze specimens of DNA from suspects submitted by Police Chiefs and other law enforcement entities in regards to felony investigations. The law fails to authorize law enforcement officials to require victims of a felony (stolen vehicles) to submit DNA for analysis.
In September, the DNA controversy erupted when Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen discovered some 12,000 convicts in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and other entities like the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department failed to collect DNA cheek swab's from inmates convicted and sentenced before transferring them to state prisons. 
"Felons are required to submit a DNA sample for entry in the Combined DNA Index System or CODIS, when convicted. The collection of the samples and development of the profiles has led to arrests and convictions in other cases. What it means at worst, is that there are offenses that have been committed for which we have DNA evidence and we don’t have a known offender in the data bank to tie that offense to," Van Hollen said.
The arrest of suspected serial killer Walter Ellis in Franklin led to the discovery of the absent DNA profiles. Ellis apparently had another inmate submit his sample. When crime lab technicians realized the profile was a duplicate, it was discarded.
In 21 states, similar laws require county sheriffs to collect a cheek swab from adults arrested on suspicion of felony crimes and juveniles found delinquent for certain sexual offenses at the time they're booked into jail, according to the New Mexico-based group DNA Saves. But, not from victims of stolen vehicles or other crimes perpetrated on them by suspects. Unless, the victim is killed, raped or seriously injured and their DNA is believed transferred to the suspects body, clothing and other items.

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Milwaukee Police Officers Profiling Blacks, Business Owner Alleges

Police Chief Eward A. Flynn ordered officers to check license plates for registered felons visiting the gun store

By H. Nelson Goodson
September 26, 2009
Updated October 2, 2009

Milwaukee -On Thursday, October 1st, Police Chief Edward A. Flynn during a press conference said, Badger Guns has "a business plan that depends on selling guns to criminals." However, the Wisconsin Department of Justice confirmed that Badger sold guns legally to customers. Even, Wisconsin state legislators and U.S. Congressmen say Badger has sold guns legally as required by federal and state laws.
Flynn was crticised for implying Badger sold guns to felons. Legislators agreed that people buying guns for felons should be the ones targeted for illegally buying them for felons, and not Badger Guns.
Adam Allan who owns Badger Guns removed the sign alleging that his Black customers were being profiled by the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) this week saying, "I made my point."
On September 25, a controversial sign was posted by a Allan drawing attention to MPD and their tactics being used to stop Blacks leaving Badger Guns Inc., 2339 S. 43rd St. in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Allan put up an outdoor sign accusing the Milwaukee Police Department of profiling customers. Allan allege MPD officers are pulling over African-American customers once they leave the store. The sign read "Racist Milwaukee Police Department is pulling over African Americans leaving this store. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Apparently, numerous complaints from customers claimed that Milwaukee police have stopped them shortly after leaving the store and then are asked if they had any weapons in the vehicle.
Residents in Wisconsin of legal age and who can prove U.S. citizenship can buy a weapon, if they don't have a felony or a restraining ordering for domestic dispute. In Wisconsin, it is also legal to carry a weapon, as long it is not concealed, according to J.B. Van Hollen, Wisconsin Attorney General.
However, Flynn ordered his officers to stop anyone carrying a weapon on plain sight in order to question and possibly cite the person for disorderly conduct.
On June 11th, Flynn says a program was initiated to stake out Badger Guns to help stop "Straw Purchasing." Straw purchasing is a term used by police indicating a person buys a gun for another person who is not legally authorized to purchase a gun. Federal law prohibits straw purchases, and Wisconsin has yet to oulaw such purchases.
The program allows surveillance by officers to target any vehicle suspected of suspicious activity, such as a man staying in the car while a female or another person goes into Badger to shop. Officers also run license plates to see if they come back as registered to felons, according to Flynn.
When officers get a positive ID for a vehicle registered to a felon, they then stop the vehicle on a traffic violation. The tactic is called a "pre-text" stop, and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it's legal to use.
Although, for officers to specifically target vehicles in a business parking lot and to run their plates for this type of operation is questionable, could raise a legal challenge, and could very well violate the privacy of customers. Eight African-Americans have been arrested and charged as a result of the police operation, according to court records.
According to Wisconsin law, felons are not barred from gun shops or shooting ranges, but are prohibited by law to own or carry a weapon. Also, felons who are no longer on paper, probation, and incarcerated get their rights restored, but are prohibited by state and federal law from owning or carrying a weapon. Unless, a judge stipulates during a conviction a certain right is withheld.
A prior Wisconsin case, a felon used a gun to shoot someone else in self defense. He was never prosecuted because he did not have a concealed weapon at the time of the shooting, prosecutors decided.
Police reported that at least more than 1,850 guns used in crimes were recovered in Milwaukee and were linked to Badger between January 2006 and Sept. 1st, according to the new gun-trace data. But, all the guns recovered from crime scenes were sold legally by Badger Guns to the initial gun buyer and a back ground check with the Wisconsin Department of Justice approved the sale.
During the 11 week Stop Straw Buying operation, officers have seized 12 guns from felons and others leaving the store, have confirmed that felons have used the shooting range, and felons have been seen by officers frequently visiting the store.
Flynn, Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm agree there is no state law prohibiting felons from going into a gun shop, but would like see a change of law to prohibit felons at least 1,000 feet from gun shops and gun shows. Chisholm said Badger can and must do more to prevent straw buying gun sales.
The straw buying operation began shortly after the June 9th shooting of two officers in the South side Walker's Point. Julius Burton, 18, was charged for shooting both Officers Kunisch and Norberg with a .40-caliber Taurus pistol. Both officers survived and have serious long-term injuries. Burton bought the gun from Jacob D. Collins, 21, who has admitted in federal court that he bought the gun at Badger in May.
Allan admits that Badger Guns has been doing everything they can to prevent illegal gun sales. Officers are targeting mostly Black men, according to Allan. Flynn denies Allan allegations of racism, but admitted Black men have a higher percentage of arrests and convictions related to gun incidents resulting in death and injuries in Milwaukee.
In Wisconsin, it is illegal for police officers to simply profile a person for his ethnicity or origin in order to stop him or assume a person is about to commit a crime due to his/her looks.