Thread: IA: Agriprocessors supervisors in custody until trial

Article published: Jul 7, 2008
Agriprocessors supervisors in custody until trial

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two Agriprocessors Inc. supervisors arrested last week for aiding and abetting illegal workers at the Postville meatprocessing plant to possess and use fraudulent identity documents will remain in federal custody until their trials.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles ruled Monday during a detention hearing for Juan Carlos Guerrero-Espinoza, 35, and Martin De La Rosa-Loera, 43. The men are upper level supervisors at the plant.

Scoles' decision was based on several considerations including the weight of evidence and criminal history. Both men had a history of illegal conduct, including entering the United States illegally. Guerrera-Espinoza acquired legal residency in 2002 and De La Rosa-Loera became a naturalized citizen in 2006.

Another factor in his decision was the number of witnesses who will testify that both men knew of their illegal status and told them to get new identification cards and Social Security cards.

Guerrero-Espinoza, a supervisor in the Beef Kill department, told a group of employees a few days before the May 12 raid they needed new identification and Social Security numbers to continue working at the company, according to the criminal complaint.

Four witnesses told Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that Guerrero-Espinoza told them to provide him with a photo and $200 or $220 for the new documents. He is charged with aiding and abetting the possession and use of fraudulent identity documents, aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft and encouraging aliens to illegally reside in the United States.

De La Rosa-Loera, a supervisor in the Poultry Kill department, told some illegal workers about 15 days before the May 12, raid they couldn't continue to work at the plant because their Social Security numbers were bad and they needed new documents, according to the complaint.

He later told those employees they could return to work using the same names previously used for employment. He is charged with aiding and abetting the possession and use of fraudulent identity documents and encouraging aliens to illegally reside in the United States.

Trial dates haven't been set.

www.gazetteonline.com

Hope the Feds turn them and go after the owners.

Originally Posted by jimpasz

Hope the Feds turn them and go after the owners.

That's the game!

Strip both of them of their citizenship immediately.

Originally Posted by CindyB

Strip both of them of their citizenship immediately.

Absolutely agree!

Both men had a history of illegal conduct, including entering the United States illegally. Guerrera-Espinoza acquired legal residency in 2002 and De La Rosa-Loera became a naturalized citizen in 2006.

How did Guerrera-Espinoza become a legal resident in 2002 and De La Rosa-Loera become a naturalized citizen in 2006 with histories of illegal conduct and entering the U.S. illegally? Both should have been banned from entering the U.S. for 10 years. Sounds like neither had a thorough background check.

Originally Posted by MyAmerica

Both men had a history of illegal conduct, including entering the United States illegally. Guerrera-Espinoza acquired legal residency in 2002 and De La Rosa-Loera became a naturalized citizen in 2006.

How did Guerrera-Espinoza become a legal resident in 2002 and De La Rosa-Loera become a naturalized citizen in 2006 with histories of illegal conduct and entering the U.S. illegally? Both should have been banned from entering the U.S. for 10 years. Sounds like neither had a thorough background check.

Well, if "Acquired legal residency" means he's a Lawful Permanent Residence, he could lose that status with a conviction (depending on how it all pans out, ie plea bargaining could reduce it to a lesser charge, etc.).

Denaturalization of a naturalized citizen, however, is a much more complicated process...they would need to prove that he had lied or misled officials regarding a fact that was material to the decision which allowed him to naturalize in the first place...a conviction wouldn't normally revoke his naturalized status (sadly).

It'll be interesting to see how this all turns out.