Alleged forger had multiple identities

Published 7:58 am Tuesday, January 25, 2011

An Austin man who allegedly had three aliases and was using one of them to work at Cedar Valley Services was charged with three counts of aggravated forgery Thursday.

Manuel Avalos-Garcia, 31, was initially arrested Dec. 3 for driving after cancellation and in an uninsured vehicle. The vehicle he was driving was registered under the name Steven Philip Murrieta, but he verbally told police his name was Manuel Avalos.

A previous booking photo of “Murrieta” matched the man, and when police were searching his name they found the alias of Joe Santos-Godines, as well.

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After some investigation, police discovered addresses under the “Murrieta” name in Austin and in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Santos-Godines was listed as living in Richfield, Minn., and previously in Austin. Both Florida and Minnesota identification cards had been issued to Santos-Godines.

Avalos-Garcia’s other alleged alias, Marcos Antonio Olvera, was listed as having addresses in Brownsville, Texas, and Austin. Missouri, Texas and Minnesota government issued identification cards had been issued to Olvera as well.

When police met with Avalos-Garcia on Jan. 4, after investigating his multiple alleged aliases, he said he works at Cedar Valley Services under the Olvera name and has a Minnesota identification card under that alias.

He also admitted to using the Murrieta name to work at QPP for three years before moving to Cedar Valley Services.

Avalos-Garcia admitted to using a false birth certificate and forged Social Security card to gain the Minnesota identification card that got him the job at QPP.

When police searched his home, they found a Mexico Matricula card, Community bank account card for Avalos-Garcia, Mexican birth certificate, Mexican marriage certificate, Specialty Personnel services pay stub for Olvera alias and a 2010 Minnesota Revenue Tax book for Avalos-Garcia.

Avalos-Garcia is set for pre-trial Feb. 24 and a jury trial March 7.