Thread: Deputies identify 10 in ID theft at Scottsdale business

Deputies identify 10 in ID theft at Scottsdale business
Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Email: dstocks@abc15.com
Last Update: 11:28 am

Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies served a search warrant Wednesday morning at a Scottsdale business following up on complaints of ID theft and employer sanctions law violations.

Deputies are at Scottsdale Art Factory near Greenway and Scottsdale roads.

They say so far 10 people have been identified as suspects in an ID theft investigation.

According to their website, Scottsdale Art Factory designs and manufactures furniture, cabinets, entry doors, gates lighting and hardware.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is expected to comment Wednesday afternoon on today's investigation, as well as the arrests of 25 undocumented immigrants found yesterday in two vehicles.

The Arizona state law targets businesses that "intentionally" or "knowingly" employ unauthorized immigrants.

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Deputies arrest 8 in ID theft at Scottsdale business
Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Email: dstocks@abc15.com
Last Update: 3:41 pm

Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies arrested 12 undocumented immigrants Wednesday morning at a Scottsdale business as they followed up on complaints of ID theft and employer sanctions law violations.

Deputies served a search warrant at Scottsdale Art Factory near Greenway and Scottsdale roads.

Sheriff's officials said in a Wednesday afternoon statement that the search was the result of a tip called in to the "Sheriff’s illegal immigration hotline in March from a source who advised ... that the business owner was knowingly hiring illegal aliens."

According to the statement, eight immigrants were arrested on identification theft charges and four more were arrested "at the business for violating immigration laws." One of those was also charged with drug possession.

Arizona's employer sanctions law targets businesses that "intentionally" or "knowingly" employ unauthorized immigrants. It went into effect one year ago.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 4:40pm MST
Maricopa Sheriff's Office hits Scottsdale Art Factory workers
Phoenix Business Journal - by MIke Sunnucks


The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 12 workers at Scottsdale Art Factory Wednesday for alleged document fraud, identity theft and immigration violations.

The raid did not target the furniture business, rather going after employees suspected of working under fake work papers.

Roger Raw, a spokesman for the Art Factory, said his company was not part of the search warrant and is not being investigated for hiring illegal immigrants. Raw said the MCSO came in to arrest the workers.

Scottsdale Art Factory builds custom furniture, cabinets and windows for residential and commercial customers. The business has about 45 employees, Raw said.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has conducted several workplace raids over the past year aimed at catching illegal immigrants at sites including an east side candle factory and water parks in Tempe, north Phoenix and Mesa.
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stor ... ily62.html