Three Guatemalan Citizens Charged with Conspiracy to Sell Phony United States Identification Cards

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Norma Yanari Ayala (34), Rigoberto Vasquez-Vasquez (42), and Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho (41) were arrested in Grand Rapids on September 30, 2025. All three were indicted by a grand jury with charges alleging that they conspired to transfer false identification documents and actually transferred false documents. Ayala and Vasquez-Mencho are also charged with illegal reentry into the U.S. after having been removed from the country previously.

The indictment alleges that from on or before June 2024 through June 2025, the defendants conspired to transfer and sell false permanent resident cards and social security account number cards that appeared to have been issued by or under the authority of the United States knowing that they were unlawfully produced. The cards were sold to persons believed to be present in the United States illegally. The indictment also charges 7 instances of such sales to confidential sources which were observed by HSI agents.

U.S. Attorney VerHey said, "These cases are a priority. Illegal immigrants come to the United States because they know they can get phony work documents allowing them to take U.S. jobs. We know whatever we can do to disrupt the fraudulent document business will help us get control of illegal immigration."

In addition, the indictment charges Norma Yanari Ayala, who has been removed on 4 occasions, and Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho, who has been removed once, with reentering the United States without authorization.

If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Daniels is prosecuting it.

The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.