Thread: FL-Homestead cop arrested , falsifying citizenship documents

Homestead cop arrested for falsifying citizenship documents

Posted on Monday, 12.14.09 Recommend (3)
By JENNIFER LEBOVICH
jlebovich@MiamiHerald.com

A Homestead police officer was arrested Friday, accused of falsifying documents to obtain U.S. citizenship.

Authorities charged Jose Villarreal, 31, with official misconduct, uttering forged instruments and false official statements.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Villarreal, who was born in Mexico, turned in a birth certificate with false information about his birthday, his middle name and his mother's name. He later applied for a law enforcement certification, using a copy of his citizenship certificate, which authorities say he falsely obtained.

``He was serving in a law enforcement position, he had to take an oath the information he provided to obtain certification was accurate and true, which wasn't the case,'' said Kristen Chernosky, a FDLE spokeswoman.

Villarreal, who was hired by Homestead police in 2006, has been placed on administrative leave with pay, said Capt. Ed Bowe, a Homestead police spokesman.

``It's always a disappointment for any department when a police officer is arrested,'' said Bowe, saying he had limited information because FDLE conducted the investigation.

Since he was in the country illegally, he does not meet the qualifications to be an officer, the arrest report said. Police officers must have U.S. citizenship to work on the force.


http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-d ... 81557.html

I hope you get more replies on this than I did. There is one question that comes to mind. He would have had to apply for his greencard first. Did he use the same ID for both? If not then why didn't immigtarion catch it? You need the same documents for both applications and need to add a copy of your legal resdiency.

Duplicate locked. Please refer comments to http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-181479-homestead.html