A routine traffic stop in Flower Mound has led to the unraveling of a sophisticated, multi-state identity theft and passport fraud operation that resulted in lengthy federal prison sentences for two New York residents, according to federal officials.
The case, investigated by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, began when Flower Mound police officers pulled over a vehicle and discovered seven counterfeit U.S. passport cards, along with bank cards tied to the same stolen identities.
That discovery prompted local officers to contact federal agents, ultimately launching a years-long investigation that uncovered a nationwide fraud scheme involving stolen personal information and counterfeit identification documents…