Thread: Complaint of ID theft led to arrests

Complaint of ID theft led to arrests

October 10, 2007

Anjeanette Damon (ADAMON@RGJ.COM)

RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

FERNLEY--A Fernley woman's complaint that someone at her old job was working under her name and Social Security number prompted the six-month investigation that led to last week's arrest of 54 workers at area McDonald's restaurants, officials said last Tuesday.

The woman, whose name was not available last Tuesday, became suspicious when she received a W-2 form early this year that reported more income than she had earned, said Lyon County Sheriff's Sgt. Russ Cadwallader, who took the complaint.

The woman soon discovered someone at the Fernley McDonald's where she used to work had been using her identity.

An initial investigation determined both the employee and the manager of that McDonald's had been using stolen identities, Cadwallader said.

"Basically, it looked like they were utilizing past employees' information or information from job applicants," Cadwallader said.

"An interview was conducted with the manager of the local McDonald's and it was confirmed she knew it was happening. Then, the manager stated she didn't have a Social Security number, and it was confirmed she was illegal."

On Sept. 27, agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency raided 11 area McDonald's restaurants, including the one in Fernley.

Agents also conducted a search of the McDonald's corporate headquarters in Reno.

The raid led to the arrest of 54 workers suspected of being in the country illegally. Eight of them have been deported to Mexico because of prior immigration violations.

Sixteen remain in custody at detention centers in Florence, Ariz., and Yuba City, Calif., ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley said.

The rest were released for humanitarian reasons and are awaiting an appearance before an immigration judge. A Nevada immigration judge is scheduled to be in Reno is Oct. 9-14.

ICE officials refused to release the names of suspects arrested during the raids, citing privacy laws.

All of the McDonald's restaurants searched by ICE are owned by Reno businessman Luther Mack, who has said he follows immigration laws when hiring employees.

Information on the woman who filed the complaint and whether it resulted in any criminal charges in Lyon County was not available Tuesday.

None of the workers arrested in the raid last week, however, has been charged with any criminal violations, said Gregory White, an enforcement supervisor in the Reno ICE office.

"I can tell you this case is ongoing," he said. "It has not ended at all. The premise of this case was the identity theft in Fernley. That's what continues to drive the case."

The search warrants issued for the raid by U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Cooke remained sealed Tuesday.

The raid was part of a national ICE initiative to step up workplace enforcement operations. Spokesman Richard Rocha said last week that the raids target employers who "build in hiring illegal workers as part of their business practice."

The raid sparked an immediate outcry among immigration advocates and the Hispanic community, who called for boycotts and marches.

www.http://news.rgj.com

Gee, I wonder how many illegals they could round up if the raided the casinos in Reno, Tahoe and Las Vegas?