Three Illegal Immigrants Face their Con Artist in Court

Reported by: Antonio Castelan

Last Update: 8/11 8:54 pm

A North County woman skirts serious jail time for selling fake documents to illegal immigrants. Prosecutors say Kim Johnson charged immigrants $1500 dollars for citizenship to the Pembina Native American tribe.

Out in the desolate parts of our county, four illegal immigrants were promised a life of tranquility; a new beginning as a part of the Pembina Native American tribe -- a tribe not recognized federally -- but for $1500 dollars, it sounded like a good idea.

The immigrants ended up at a San Diego County courtroom instead.

Prosecutors say Kim Johnson promised these illegals the life they dreamed of. The federal government charged her with grand theft and creating false documents for citizenship.

San Diego County judge Michael T. Smyth said in court, "The integrity of our passport system and of our borders and the people who are trying to come here legally and some illegally is affected by conduct like this."

An illegal immigrant we'll call "Christian" says Johnson told them he'd have open access to all U.S. Borders with this citizenship.

"Christian" tells San Diego 6, "They told us we were going to be Native American citizens, because the nation would adopt us. We were going to have the right as Americans have a driver's license and other I.D.'s."

Johnson received two years probation for her plea. She also paid the illegals back their money.


http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/sto ... 672d8c6a37