Thread: AR: Springdale residents indicted for harboring illegal immi

Springdale residents indicted for harboring illegal immigrants

Associated Press - July 9, 2007 7:24 PM ET

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A federal prosecutor says a grand jury in western Arkansas has accused two Springdale residents of harboring illegal immigrants, money laundering and identity theft. The charges announced today stem from a series of May raids on taquerias in northwest Arkansas.

US Attorney Robert C- Balfe of Fort Smith says Honorato Pedroza and Gema Rivera-Soto face four felony counts springing from the raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents -- plus a charge of identity theft against Rivera-Soto.

Agents arrested 15 adult Mexican nationals and four juvenile Mexican nationals in the May 21st raids at three restaurants in Washington and Benton counties. Two adults from El Salvador also were arrested.

The yearlong investigation began after federal agents said they found Pedroza using a Social Security number not assigned to him.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6765649

That's great - really it is - money laundering, etc.

A year to do all this, though. Well the money laundering, I guess.

I am happy for every little bit they do, but I always wonder why are they working a year to arrest 2 dozen illegals.

They could take 4 buses, a dozen BP agents and get hundreds during shift change at any poultry plant - or other large business.

The yearlong investigation began after federal agents said they found Pedroza using a Social Security number not assigned to him.

Don't we have about 20 million problems like this???

Originally Posted by zeezil

The yearlong investigation began after federal agents said they found Pedroza using a Social Security number not assigned to him.

Don't we have about 20 million problems like this???

Yes. And perhaps if this type of activity continues, as it should, and gets plenty of exposure it will bring about some self-correcting measures.