Feds: Social Security ring sold fake IDs to immigrants

ATLANTA - Twenty-eight people were indicted Monday after federal investigators discovered a crime ring that sold fake Social Security cards to illegal immigrants around Atlanta. <br> <br> Investigators believe the ring issued 1,900 cards starting in April 1999, with some ring members spreading out through metro Atlanta to find people willing to buy fraudulent Social Security cards. Heading the ring was 52-year-old Matar Fall who has been indicted and arrested. <br> <br> Also indicted is a Social Security Aministration claims adjuster, 43-year-old Celestine Huger, who was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and accepting bribes. <br> <br> According to the federal indictment unsealed Monday, Huger received about $70,000 in payoffs. <br> <br> When asked if any of the recipients of the fraudulent cards were suspects in any terrorism investigations, Duffey declined comment. <br> <br> But he said ``first and foremost,&#39;&#39; authorities will try to determine if anyone obtained the fraudulent cards for ``purposes other than to seek employment. We&#39;re going to focus our efforts on that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Of the 28 people charged in the case, 20 were recently arrested and one was already in custody. When rounding up the suspects, federal authorities recently seized 240 passports from 26 different countries and 716 false U.S. visas.