Thread: Migrant syndicate busted, cops say

http://www.lcsun-news.com/artman/publis ... 9567.shtml

By Steve Ramirez
Sep 23, 2005, 07:30 am

Eight people, including the leader of an alleged undocumented immigrant smuggling ring, were arrested Wednesday in Hatch, and arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Las Cruces.

Agustin “El Norteño� Caraza-Alvarado, 66, was arrested Wednesday at his home in Hatch, according to news releases from the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal law enforcement officers believe Caraza-Alvarado has been the head of the Caraza immigrant smuggling organization that has been operating in southern New Mexico for the past 20 years.

Also arrested were Martha Caraza, the 29-year-old daughter of Caraza-Alvarado; Jorge Villa-Garcia, 52; Esequiel “Cheque� Lessa, 37; Yaneth Villa-Peralta, 23; Belinda Rosales, 30, Cesar Jesus Ruelas-Ortiz, 32, and Jorge Marmolejo, 20.

According to ICE officials, Lessa, Rosales, Ruelas-Ortiz and Marmolejo are U.S. citizens, and Villa-Garcia, Villa-Peralta and Martha Caraza are legal permanent U.S. residents.

Letticia Zamarripa, ICE spokeswoman, said they have all been charged with conspiracy to transport and conspiracy to conceal of harbor undocumented immigrants, and conspiracy to launder money. They appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lourdes Martinez.

“ICE is utilizing its broad immigration and customs authority to uncover and halt the activities of those who profit from trafficking of humans,� said Keith J. Perniciaro, head of the ICE office of investigations, in El Paso.

According to a five-count criminal complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, the smuggling ring allegedly conducted numerous Western Union money transfers, from $300 to $2,600. The complaint also alleges that between Oct. 11, 2004 to Feb. 23, 2005 Caraza-Alvarado conducted three money transfers of $600, $400 and $1,500 respectively.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at sramirez@lcsun-news.com

"Caraza-Alvarado has been the head of the Caraza immigrant smuggling organization that has been operating in southern New Mexico for the past 20 years. "

Geeez, about time they got him.