Three Guatemalan citizens were arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 30, 2025, following an indictment by a grand jury. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, announced that Norma Yanari Ayala (34), Rigoberto Vasquez-Vasquez (42), and Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho (41) face charges related to the transfer and sale of false identification documents.
According to the indictment, from before June 2024 through June 2025, the defendants allegedly conspired to sell fraudulent permanent resident cards and social security account number cards. These documents appeared to be issued by or under the authority of the United States but were unlawfully produced. The indictment specifies that these cards were sold to individuals believed to be in the United States illegally. Seven instances of such sales were observed by Homeland Security Investigations agents using confidential sources.
Norma Yanari Ayala and Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho are also charged with illegal reentry into the United States after previous removals—Ayala having been removed four times and Vasquez-Mencho once.
U.S. Attorney VerHey stated: “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.”
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 15 years in prison. Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Daniels is prosecuting the case.
The indictment notes that all charges are accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
