Granada Hills Man Arrested For Selling Fraudulent Documents Out Of Valley Traffic School

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A four-year joint investigation has resulted in the arrest of a San Fernando Valley man who allegedly sold fraudulent documents — including passports and travel papers — out of his Van Nuys traffic school, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Friday.

Otto Escobar is facing charges of preparing false documents for court.

"Otto would manufacture traffic school completion certificates, Guatemalan passports, and Department of Homeland Security forms regarding temporary entry into the United States," Det. Ron Sabatine said.

The documents were then sold from his business, OK Driving School, to the public as well as undercover officers.

Investigators from the sheriff's department, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the California Department of Motor Vehicles served a search warrant at Escobar's Granada Hills home, business and car, Sabatine said.

Authorities seized "dozens of rubber stamps with fraudulent State and Federal seals, several reams of blank DMV paper containing the State of California seal, and several blank Guatemalan passports," he said.

Escobar was subsequently arrested. He is free on $20,000 bond.

Authorities say additional charges are pending.