All admit to using fake documents to gain employment.

[view:node_ad=5]In one of the larger raids in recent memory, detectives and deputies from the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s station served a search warrant at L&M Optical in the Valencia Industrial Center and took roughly 100 people into custody.

After seizing employment records, Detectives secured felony charges for 54 of them for using false documents to secure employment with the company.

According to Detective Jim Anderson, all of the charged suspects admitted to using  the false documents.

The source of the problem is that the social security numbers used on the employment documents were not those appointed to the workers. The suspects reportedly purchased the stolen social security numbers from a variety of illegal operations across Los Angeles County.

Detectives were first tipped off after 19 victims reported that their identities had been stolen. 13 of those victims were Santa Clarita residents. Then, when an investigation was sparked, it was found that the victims’ social security numbers matched those of several employees of L&M Optical.

No charges have been brought against the company, and Sgt. Anderson says they are still investigating.

“We’re not done, obviously,” he said. “We have just dealt with the suspects.”

All but 10 of the suspects went to court today, and Deputy District Attorney Lori Dery, head deputy of the Santa Clarita office, said in a statement that “18 people were charged with one count each of ID theft, false personation and false documentation. The 18 allegedly provided someone else’s Social Security number to get the job and allegedly used a false Green Card as well.”

The statement continued; “Thirty-three defendants who allegedly provided phony Social Security numbers and phony Green Cards were charged with one count each of use of false documents and false personation. Three defendants were charged with one count of use of false documents.”