Thread: Mexican woman illegally in U.S. pleads guilty to part in bur

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Mexican woman illegally in U.S. pleads guilty to part in burglary ring

By RON INGRAM - H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - A Mexican woman illegally in the United States pleaded guilty Friday to one count of burglary in Macon County Circuit Court and promised to return immediately to Mexico in return for a sentence of 24 months conditional discharge.

Laura Aquayo-Rosa, 22, was detained Jan. 31 along with another illegal alien, Mariana Jimenes-Ambriz, 27, at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter, 4224 N. Prospect Drive, when they were found taking merchandise from the store. They later admitted to being part of a multi-state theft and burglary ring.

Ambriz pleaded guilty to one count of burglary on March 23 and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Assistant State's Attorney Mark Bradley said the women brought large black purses with the linings removed into the store and placed batteries in them before moving to the aisle where baby items were located and attempting to take baby formula. He said when a store employee confronted them, they returned the baby formula but left the store without paying for the batteries.

Assistant Public Defender Phil Tibbs said Rosa had been in the United States only 14 days when she arrived in Indianapolis, and was offered a "job" by a man she met there. He said she then came to Decatur with Ambriz knowing they were to take items from the Wal-Mart.

"She went in the store knowing they were going to steal but decided she would not do so," Tibbs told Associate Judge Scott Diamond. "But when the other woman left with items, she knew that was happening."

Speaking through an interpreter, Rosa entered her plea and agreed to the deal with the state's attorney's office. A sentence of conditional discharge means she will not have to report to the county probation office. The state agreed not to file a violation of the sentence, which normally would have to be served in the country, if she returned to Mexico.

Rosa was to be freed Friday after providing a DNA sample as required by state law of all convicted felons. But whether she actually will return to Mexico was in doubt because of court rules and the overwhelming volume of illegal immigrants with whom federal authorities must deal.

The county probation office does not have to notify federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement about an illegal person processed through the courts unless that person is sentenced to probation or a prison term.

Macon County Sheriff Jerry Dawson said his office would probably make a phone call to the federal agency to alert it to Rosa's situation.

"We want to do the right thing," Dawson said. "But ICE doesn't care about illegal aliens unless they have committed a serious crime."

Last week, when U.S. marshals led a national sweep for people wanted on felony warrants, many illegal immigrants were found working in local restaurants, Dawson said.

"They told us they were targeting illegals in the sweep but only those with a serious crime such as a DUI or higher offense," Dawson said. "Otherwise, they just let them go. That department (ICE) is overwhelmed."

If Rosa does not return to Mexico, probably nothing will happen to her unless she is picked up again by authorities, Dawson said.

Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@herald-review.com or 421-7973.

I'm gonna cry That is where I grew up as a kid and I thought they would be the last place to be hit with any of this.


We have been invaded

Rosa was to be freed Friday after providing a DNA sample as required by state law of all convicted felons. But whether she actually will return to Mexico was in doubt because of court rules and the overwhelming volume of illegal immigrants with whom federal authorities must deal.

She may be a border jumper that agreed to steal for a living just 14 days after her arrival, but hey, her promise to go back to mexico immediately is as good as gold.

Sigh.....