Springdale residents indicted for harboring illegal immigrants

Associated Press - July 9, 2007 7:24 PM ET

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A federal prosecutor says a grand jury in western Arkansas has accused two Springdale residents of harboring illegal immigrants, money laundering and identity theft. The charges announced today stem from a series of May raids on taquerias in northwest Arkansas.

US Attorney Robert C- Balfe of Fort Smith says Honorato Pedroza and Gema Rivera-Soto face four felony counts springing from the raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents -- plus a charge of identity theft against Rivera-Soto.

Agents arrested 15 adult Mexican nationals and four juvenile Mexican nationals in the May 21st raids at three restaurants in Washington and Benton counties. Two adults from El Salvador also were arrested.

The yearlong investigation began after federal agents said they found Pedroza using a Social Security number not assigned to him.

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