A month-long police sting operation led to the arrests of two UA students Tuesday evening in connection with the production and sale of false identification cards.

At 6:31 p.m., Jonathan L. Sacks, 18, was arrested on second-degree felony charges of fraudulent schemes and artifices, and Bryan J. Ringel, 20, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit fraudulent schemes and artifices. Both students are residents of Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall, 910 E. Fifth St., and were booked into Pima County Jail for holding.

They were later released on their own recognizance, a Pima County Jail official said.

If convicted, the two could face prison terms of between four and 35 years and fines of up to $150,000, depending on past criminal records, said Harry Hueston, deputy chief of the University of Arizona Police Department.

"These are significant arrests," Hueston said. "There were probably hundreds of IDs made in the operation."

Police later served a search warrant at the students' residences and found evidence that supported the charges, reports stated. The confiscated items included 21 false identification cards, blank ID forms, $480 in cash and mailing packages allegedly used to send the false cards to purchasers. Officers also collected envelopes that may link other individuals to the fake ID ring.

Due to the students' unwillingness to talk to officers, police "know there are more people involved," Hueston said.

In the coming weeks, university police will follow up the arrests by contacting the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles and the U.S. Postal Service, since the false cards were sent through the mail.

According to Hueston, the fake ID makers were infiltrated by a police representative posing as a student seeking a false identification card.

UAPD has coordinated their efforts with other departments because preliminary reports indicate the operation spans two states, Hueston added.

"What was going on affected the entire campus community," said UAPD Detective Wade Boltinghouse. The ongoing investigation will hopefully result in more arrests, he said.

Police officials want to warn all students about the dangers of using fake IDs.

"I think our students need to understand that there is a consequence in purchasing fraudulent identifications," Hueston said. "Sometimes this consequence results in life-changing experiences." He said students should ask themselves, "Is it really worth it?"

Police encourage anyone with additional information about the case to contact detectives at 621-1365.