Alderman's father pleads guilty in fake ID case

A Chicago alderman's father pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges that he conspired to make fake IDs at a photo shop in the city's heavily Mexican-American Little Village neighborhood.

Elias Munoz, 63, acknowledged at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer that he knew the photos he took would be used in the manufacture of fake drivers licenses and state and federal ID papers.

"Why?" Pallmeyer asked.

"Well, that was the business," Munoz, a native of Mexico, said simply, speaking through a translator.

Munoz, the father of Chicago Alderman Ricardo Munoz, faces a maximum sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine. But the actual punishment is likely to be considerably lighter. Sentencing is set for Sept. 24.

The alderman was not on hand for the plea.

The elder Munoz left the courthouse declining to comment.

"We don't want to say anything," said defense attorney Steven Shobat.

Shobat did tell the judge that while his client is guilty of the charge, the defense believes prosecutors overstated the specifics of the case in order to influence whatever sentence Pallmeyer imposes.

A federal spokesman, Randall Samborn, declined to comment.

Munoz was among 22 individuals swept up in May 2007 when federal agents launched a crackdown on bogus document making in Little Village.