Fake ID Dealer Pleads Guilty

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - A Fluvanna County man, who used social media platforms to sell hundreds of fraudulent IDs to underage customers, pled guilty in U.S. District Court.

Sebastian Andres Arquilla, 22, of Palmyra, Virginia, pled guilty to knowingly transferring in the mail false identification documents that were and appeared to be driver's licenses.

According to court documents, beginning in 2022 and continuing through October 2024, Arquilla advertised, sold, and shipped fake identification documents, primarily "scannable" driver's licenses, to underage customers around the country using a variety of social media platforms and the U.S. mail.

Arquilla created accounts in the name of "The Novelty Team" to market the fake identification documents online using social media platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram, and Discord.

Through "The Novelty Team," Arquilla sold hyper-realistic, polycarbonate IDs for $125 apiece and promised customers they "scan everywhere. All bars/clubs, grocery stores, liquor stores, cannabis dispensaries, vape shops."

As part of his guilty plea, Arquilla agreed to forfeit at least $84,449 in illicit profits, as well as electronic devices and a magnetic scanner device.

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood made the announcement.

The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne is prosecuting the case.