16 workers face identity theft, forgery charges
By SHIRLEY RAGSDALE
October 4, 2007

Marshalltown police have arrested 16 employees of Manpower Inc. on forgery and identity theft charges. The arrests were made Friday at Monsanto Seed Co. in Grinnell.

Police obtained 26 arrest warrants for people employed by Manpower's Marshalltown office to work under contract to Monsanto.

The warrants were based on information from an informant who alleged that fraudulent documents were being presented to Manpower to gain employment.

The status of the 10 people who were not arrested is unknown, according to Marshalltown Police Chief David Lon Walker.

"We're not actively pursuing them because we don't think they're still in the area," Walker said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "assisted in processing illegal immigrants, checked identities and ethnicities," said Greg Palmore, regional ICE spokesman. "We provided a specialized immigration law enforcement capability."

All those arrested were taken to the Marshall County Jail, where they were being held on felony charges.

People wanting to verify the names of those arrested or assist their families may contact Hispanic Ministries at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Marshalltown.

Reporter Shirley Ragsdale can be reached at (515) 284-8208 or sragsdale@dmreg.com

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