UGA students busted for making fake IDs in dorm
Most college dorms barely have enough room for two beds and two desks. It’s hard to imagine having enough room to run a business.
But three University of Georgia students apparently found a way. The trio is facing dozens of felony charges for allegedly producing fake identification cards to sell to underage students.
Following a tip from another roommate, investigators found several phony IDs, a laminating machine and other materials in a room in the East Campus Village. One student was apparently making the IDs and his two friends helped sell them.
“I think at this age, you never think you’re going to get caught,” UGA police Chief Jimmy Williamson told Channel 2 Action News.
But they did get caught, and this ring is believed to be small in comparison to a larger one currently under investigation.
Are fake IDs a part of college, or should university officials continue to crack down on dorm businesses like this?
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73 comments Add your comment
RGB
September 13th, 2012
10:33 am
jabster,
So what other laws do you think are unjust? And who should decide?
Used a Fake ID
September 13th, 2012
10:37 am
Speaking as someone who went to UGA and used a fake-id within the last 10 years, this has been going on forever. If you didn’t have a fake-id then you were passed down a real id of someone who looked somewhat like you. This type of activity goes on in almost every large college campus in the U.S. The real issue is the drinking age and teaching responsible drinking. I would argue on a Friday night in Athens, the students that are legally drinking (at 21+) are less intoxicated than the underage students…. These kids definitely broke the law and should face some consequences, but multiple felony charges… really? I knew a guy that used to make and sell fake parking permits at UGA. He got caught and his punishment… a mere slap on the wrist from the University. To me, they are one in the same.
Tag
September 13th, 2012
10:50 am
It’s a crime!
Pat
September 13th, 2012
10:53 am
I have a freshman at UGA and would not want her to have a fake ID to party with. It is a crime to produce or possess fake IDs and underage drinking is a big problem on college campuses. I think a little community service and a fine would be a good punishment and allow them to continue at UGA. Just because it’s been done in the past doesn’t make it right.
aon
September 13th, 2012
10:55 am
I agree that college kids do dumb things and that 99.9% of them probably have a fake ID. However, that does not make it right. I agree that this is not “felony” worthy but you can’t just let kids run amok…that’s why they do stupid things. Oh, and those of you who want to transfer your anger to the “snitch” instead of focusing on the people who actually committed the offense, grow up!
CommonSenseRules
September 13th, 2012
10:56 am
JB
18-year-old voting — an easy pander in the aftermath of the Vietnam debacle — was one of the most idiotic moves that the U.S. Congress has made in recent history. Unfortunately, it will not be undone. There are mountains of data indicating that judgment and emotional development are underdeveloped in adolescents –it’s one of the scientific, as opposed to socially anecdotal –pieces of evidence AGAINST 16-year-olds as drivers. Lowering the ‘legal’ age at which a teen can become inebriated, further impairing judgment and reducing inhibitions, makes about as much sense as turning a toddler loose with a loaded gun! It’s the frontal lobes, man. Just because this country is stupid enough to allow unformed and uninformed minds make decisions, doesn’t make it wise, smart, or in anyone’s best interests.
George Burdell
September 13th, 2012
12:18 pm
Sounds like another typical night at u(sic)ga… Must have been a slow news day
evan
September 13th, 2012
9:53 pm
@ common sense
So it’s not ok to let an 18 year old vote or drink but perfectly ok to have one get killed in a foreign land in service to his or her country?
The only way you don’t sound like a hippocrite is if you agree that only people ages 21 or over should be drafted.
happened to me
September 14th, 2012
12:23 am
my roommate and I were making them and someone in the dorms snitched on us. the sheriff took our gear and we fessed up. served 150 hours picking up trash on campus over the next few months.
happened to me
September 14th, 2012
12:26 am
Pat, someone’s little girl is standing on her head in Athens tonight, and someone is putting a keg tap into her mouth! afterwards, they’ll try to get another 12 pack, but no one has an ID. No problem, the frat kid from the prep school has a big bag of weed to share. flip on the phish and bake away! no id necessary