Busted

The hands that have created hundreds of fake IDs for Bloomington residents were locked in handcuffs today, as Indiana State Excise Police discovered a counterfeit operation. \nIU student Nicholas Richardson, 21, has been lauded by police as, “the largest manufacturer of false IDs in Bloomington,” Excise officer Travis R. Thickstun said.\nWednesday afternoon, police removed supplies from Richardson’s apartment within Smallwood Plaza, 455 N. College Ave., that suggested this notoriety was accurate. A cardboard Nutri-Grain box, carried out by Lt. Ken Murphy, was filled with pre-cut laminates, colored dust to produce holograms, ink cartridges and high-end printers.\n“What he’s doing is buying the blank laminate and printing off some pattern on the Internet (that matches the laminates on official IDs),” Murphy said.\nOfficers then assume Richardson used a cutter, which was found in the residence, to fit to the exact size of the ID. Supplies were on-hand for licenses from Virginia, Massachusetts, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, California and Illinois.\nThe result is a nearly undetectable replica of identification from all regions of the country, Murphy said.\n“If I were to take one to the airport, I could buy a ticket and get on an airplane, no problem,” Murphy said. The contrabans was discovered when IDs were confiscated by police and the license numbers entered into a police database. Murphy said this was the one step Richardson could not complete.\nNo charges have officially been filed against Richardson, but Murphy said when he knocked on Richardson’s door and mentioned the IDs, “his face turned white.”\nWhile Murphy said most college students obtain identification to get into bars and buy alcohol, he is concerned about the more serious ramifications of identity theft.\nWhen Murphy suggested the possibility of identity theft to Richardson he said he had not thought of that. Murphy said he believed him. \nThe FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, however, are thinking about identity theft. By the time the bust occurred Wednesday, Murphy said both agencies were already involved in the investigation.\nRichardson had in his possession a database including personal information about his past and current clients, Murphy said.\nMurphy warned anyone who has purchased one of the IDs to shred it immediately. Those found with false identification are subject to a $500 fine and a Class C Misdemeanor. Richardson’s roommate, who had one of the IDs in question, has already been charged, Murphy said.\nRichardson, who is currently in custody in Monroe County Jail, faces a $5,000 fine and three years in jail if convicted.\nLuckily for Richardson, the profits of his business may cover that fine. The entrepreneurship major was charging $125 for each ID, Murphy said, and currently had 35 ready to be picked up. \n“From the amount of supplies, he’s made a lot and would continue to make a lot,” Murphy said.\nIn addition to Bloomington, other IDs of the same manufacturing have been located in Indianapolis and West Lafayette, Murphy said.\n“IDs have been a problem in Bloomington since back when we had paper IDs,” he said.\nMurphy hopes that by eliminating Richardson from the scene, the problem of fake IDs will greatly decrease.