Thread: Dozens arrested after federal multi-agency raid at Evans

Nine arrested in Columbia County raid remain in jail

By Summer Moore Staff Writer
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 8:34 PM

Eight men and one woman were still waiting at the Columbia County jail Saturday night to be handed over to federal authorities.

The nine arrests were made during a raid at 2021 Grace Ave. in Evans Friday evening by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and representatives of the FBI, IRS and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The owner of the $1.7 million, 11,500-square-foot home, Hugo Diaz, and his wife, Blanca Miranda De Diaz, were among those arrested. According to the Better Business Bureau, Diaz owns De La Fuente construction in Grovetown.

The seven other men arrested are Arturo Domiinquez-Suaste, Reyes Fredrico Lopez-Garcia, Jesus Vazquez-Trejo, Carlos Suarez Ortega, Rigoberto Loza-Marquez, Estaban Jarquin-Esteba, and Heris Francisco Medina-Ramires. Addresses were not listed, nor were charges.

According to Columbia County Lt. Ben Groves, they are being held for the U.S. Marshall.

Sheriff Clay Whittle said Friday there were raids at three houses in Columbia County and one in Richmond County, but all the addresses haven’t been released.

Information regarding the raid is under a sealed federal indictment and could possibly be available within a few days, Whittle said. The arrests were handled through ICE, he said.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-new ... 1320525246

Updated: 6:49 PM Nov 5, 2011

UPDATE: Dozens arrested after federal multi-agency raid at Evans mansion

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, FBI, IRS, and Columbia County Sheriff's Office raided a home in The Estates of Jones Creeks in Evans around 5 p.m. Friday. News 12 has learned the homeowner's name is Hugo Diaz.

Posted: 6:16 PM Nov 4, 2011
Reporter: Sheli Muniz
Email Address: sheli.muniz@wrdw.com
News 12 at 11/ November , 2011

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, FBI, IRS, and Columbia County Sheriff's Office raided a home in The Estates of Jones Creeks in Evans around 5 p.m. Friday.

So far, at least a dozen people have been detained at the home on 2000 block of Grace Avenue. Officials say they are searching two other homes in the county and one home in Richmond County.

According to the Columbia County jail, 9 men and one woman have been booked with no bond. The charges say: hold for other agencies.

42-year-old Blanca Miranda De-Diaz
43-year-old Hugo Diaz Delafuente
34-year-old Jesus Vazquez-Trejo
25-year-old Heris Francisco Medina-Ramires
27-year-old Rigoberto Loza-Marquez
50-year-old Esteban Jarquin-Esteba
40-year-old Carlos Suares-Ortega
29-year-old Reyes Frederico Lopez Garcia
34-year-old Arturo Dominiquez-Suaste

The search warrant was issued by the U.S. Attorney in Savannah. We are told this is a sealed indictment meaning they are staying tight-lipped about the details.

News 12 has learned the homeowner's name is Hugo Diaz, according to Columbia County records. The home is estimated to be worth $1.6 million and is 11,000 square feet. We're told Diaz owns a construction company and on the Better Business Bureau website, he is listed as the primary contact for De La Fuente Contractors in Grovetown.

We have learned Diaz is in the country legally. Officials would not confirm the status of the men detained.

At this point, officials will not confirm what exactly sparked the search warrant.

On the scene, officers brought in K-9s and were blacking out windows. Outside, Hispanic men were taken into custody.

The Columbia County Sheriff was also on the scene trying to put the community at ease.

Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle said, "There's no danger here, where these people are concerned. There's been no danger at the house, as far as the general public, no one needs to be alarmed at the presence of these people."

Officials say the indictment will be made public as early as Monday, that would be a federal judge's call.

http://www.wrdw.com/crimeteam12/headlin ... 69963.html

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