Basically, yes. Chris S. (an Armenian-American IIRC) has contributed to FT and his name is referenced in the link in the OP.

I'm still aware of official capacity to get valid passports in whatever name a person may wish, for under $500,000 at that. Fraudulently-acquired real passports in a non-blacklisted name are also available, and they cost only a few thousand dollars. A very well-informed criminal with a bit of time on the hand could quite readily acquire a real US passport for well under a $1,000 using US federal and.or US state/local government channels.

The TSA's obsession with ID as "security" is just a big sham to keep the TSA workfare workforce busy with workfarce workfare that provides feelings of comfort/security to the ill-informed, paranoid nervous nellies and to the manipulative self-dealers in supposed "public service".