Thread: Missouri licenses went to illegal immigrants, former employee admits

5 hours ago • BY ROBERT PATRICK
St. Louis Post-Dispatch



ST. LOUIS • A former employee of a drivers license fee office pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday and admitted providing Missouri drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

As part of her plea, Yvette Roberson, 59, of St. Louis, admitted providing either the licenses or a nondriver ID to four illegal immigrants who provided false or stolen identification documents. None were required to pass a test or prove their lawful residency.

Prosecutors claim that Roberson helped 40 people in that way. At the time, Roberson worked at a revenue office in Bridgeton.

Co-defendants Ricardo Ortiz, 31, of Pacific, and Jorge Fabian Pesqueda Perez, 35, of St. Peters, provided the illegal aliens with the documents, and sent those aliens to Roberson, prosecutors say. They have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing, as has Elizabeth Cervantes, 27, of St. Peters.

Ortiz, who is also known as Jose Ramos Jr., is himself in the country illegally, having been deported at least three times, prosecutors say. His wife, Melissa Ortiz, 33, has pleaded guilty to one count of harboring an illegal alien.

Rafael Guerrero, 42, and Magdalena Lopez, 42, both of Warrenton, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possession of false identification documents and were sentenced Sept. 5 to a year of probation.

One Old Vet

Missouri licenses went to illegal immigrants, former employee admits : Stltoday

St. Louis (KSDK) - Several people pleaded guilty Tuesday to providing Missouri driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

Court documents state Yvette Roberson was a contract employee of a privately operated Missouri Department of Revenue Office in St. Louis County, and provided illegal aliens with Missouri licenses with information provided by Ricardo Ortiz and Jorge Fabian Pesqueda Perez.

Authorities say in one case Roberson told the individual the identity that was provided had too many criminal warrants attached to it and advised the person to seek a different identity.

Ortiz, who also goes by the name Jose Ramos, Jr., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, two counts of production of false identification documents, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of illegal re-entry of a previously convicted felon. His wife, Melissa Ortiz, pleaded guilty to harboring an illegal alien.

According to the plea, 31-year-old Ortiz had been deported four times before he was arrested on the current charges.

Roberson, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, one count of producing false identification documents, and two counts of aggravated theft.

Perez, 35, and Elizabeth Cervantes, 27, pleaded guilty to related charges and are awaiting sentencing.

Rafael Guerrero, 42, and Magdalena Lopez, 42, pleaded guilty to possession of false identification documents and were sentence to one year of probation.

For each count of conspiracy to defraud and harboring an illegal alien the penalty is up to five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.

Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence given.

KSDK

Several plead guilty to providing driver's licenses to illegal aliens | ksdk.com

Driver’s License Bureau Employee & Associates Plead Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges

In one case, she advised an individual that the identity he wished to use had too many criminal warrants attached to it, and he should seek a different identity to use.

Submitted by KTVI-KPLR
Tuesday, September 18th, 2012, 3:19pm
Topics: Crime

St. Louis, MO -Yvette Roberson, Ricardo Ortiz, and Jorge Pesqueda Perez entered guilty pleas to charges of providing State of Missouri drivers licenses to illegal aliens.

According to court documents, Roberson was a contract employee of a privately operated Missouri Department of Revenue Office in St. Louis County. Between March 2010 and December 2011, Ricardo Ortiz and Jorge Fabian Pesqueda Perez provided individuals who were illegally in the United States with the identifying information of United States citizens or lawful residents of the United States. Ortiz and Perez instructed the individuals to approach Roberson at her place of employment, and present her with the name, social security number, and date of birth they provided to the individuals. Upon receipt of the information, Roberson issued the individuals genuine State of Missouri driver’s licenses and non-drivers identification documents. In one case, she advised an individual that the identity he wished to use had too many criminal warrants attached to it, and he should seek a different identity to use. Those who received driver’s licenses were not required to prove their lawful residency or their ability to safely operate motor vehicles. Roberson, Ortiz, and Pesqueda Perez assisted co-defendants Elizabeth Cervantes, Rafael Moreno Guerrero, Magdalena Contreras Lopez and others with obtaining fraudulent State of Missouri drivers licenses.

In addition to pleading guilty to his involvement in the driver’s license scheme, Ricardo Ortiz also entered a guilty plea to having illegally re-entered the United States after having been deported. His wife, Melissa Ortiz, entered a plea of guilty to harboring an illegal alien. According to the plea, Ortiz had been deported at least three times prior to being arrested on the current charges in 2012. The deportations occurred January 12, 2000, April 19, 2000, March 19, 2002, and January 23, 2004. Throughout the various illegal entries and deportations, Melissa and Ricardo Ortiz resided together in the Eastern District of Missouri with their children. Beginning in 2008, Ricardo Ortiz used a fraudulently produced State of Missouri drivers license in the name of J.A.R. to conceal his unlawful residency in the United States. Melissa Ortiz and Ricardo Ortiz also used the identity of J.A.R. to jointly register vehicles in the name of Melissa Ortiz and J.A.R.

Roberson, 59, St. Louis, MO, 63136, pled guilty today to one felony count of conspiracy defraud, one felony count of producing false identification documents, and two felony counts of aggravated identity theft before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton.

Ricardo Ortiz a/ka Jose Ramos, Jr., 31, Pacific, MO, pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to defraud, two felony counts of production of false identification documents, two felony counts of aggravated identity theft and one felony count of illegal re-entry of a previously convicted felon. His wife Melissa Ortiz, 33, also of Pacific, pled guilty to one felony count of harboring an illegal alien.

Jorge Fabian Pesqueda Perez, 35, of St. Peters, MO, and Elizabeth Cervantes, 27, of St. Peters, MO have pled guilty to related charges and await sentencing.

Rafael Guerrero, 42, Warrenton, MO, and Magdalena Lopez, 42, Warrenton, MO pled guilty to the misdemeanor charge of possession of false identification documents and were sentenced by Chief United States Magistrate Judge Mary Ann L. Medler, on September 5, 2012, to one year of probation.

Conspiracy to defraud and harboring an illegal alien carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.00 for each count. Producing false identification documents carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.00 for each count. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two year term of incarceration which must be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the Missouri Department of Revenue Compliance and Investigation Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Berry is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Driver

ADDED KTVI ARTICLE TO ALIPAC HOMEPAGE News with amended title ..

http://www.alipac.us/content.php?r=9...-Fraud-Charges

December 14, 2012
By Julie Brown Patton
Eureka-WildflowerPatch

The Pacific man assisted a Driver's License Bureau employee with providing licenses to illegal aliens, while his wife was charged with harboring an unlawful resident.



Yvette Roberson, and several associates, were sentenced Friday on charges of providing State of Missouri drivers licenses to illegal aliens. According to court documents, Roberson was a contract employee of a privately operated Missouri Department of Revenue Office in St. Louis County. Between March 2010 and December 2011, Ricardo Ortiz and Jorge Fabian Pesqueda Perez provided individuals who were illegally in the United States with the identifying information of United States citizens or lawful residents of the United States, stated a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Missouri.

Roberson, 59, St. Louis, was sentenced today to 42 months in prison on one felony count of conspiracy defraud, one felony count of producing false identification documents, and two felony counts of aggravated identity theft before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton.

Ricardo Ortiz, a/ka Jose Ramos, Jr., 31, Pacific, pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to defraud, two felony counts of production of false identification documents, two felony counts of aggravated identity theft and one felony count of illegal re-entry of a previously convicted felon, and was sentenced in November to 45 months in prison. His wife, Melissa Ortiz, 33, also of Pacific, pled guilty to one felony count of harboring an illegal alien and was sentenced to three years of probation.

Ortiz and Perez instructed the individuals to approach Roberson at her place of employment, and present her with the name, social security number, and date of birth they provided to the individuals. Upon receipt of the information, Roberson issued the individuals genuine State of Missouri driver’s licenses and non-drivers identification documents.

In one case, the release stated Roberson advised an individual that the identity he wished to use had too many criminal warrants attached to it, and he should obtain a different identity to use. Those who received driver’s licenses were not required to prove their lawful residency or their ability to safely operate motor vehicles.

Roberson, Ortiz, and Pesqueda Perez assisted co-defendants Elizabeth Cervantes, Rafael Moreno Guerrero, Magdalena Contreras Lopez and others with obtaining fraudulent State of Missouri drivers licenses.

In addition to pleading guilty to his involvement in the drivers license scheme, Ricardo Ortiz also entered a guilty plea to having illegally re-entered the United States after having been deported. His wife, Melissa Ortiz, entered a plea of guilty to harboring an illegal alien.

According to the plea, Ortiz had been deported at least three times prior to being arrested on the current charges in 2012. The deportations occurred January 12, 2000, April 19, 2000, March 19, 2002, and January 23, 2004.

Throughout the various illegal entries and deportations, Melissa and Ricardo Ortiz resided together in the Eastern District of Missouri with their children. Beginning in 2008, Ricardo Ortiz used a fraudulently produced State of Missouri drivers license in the name of J.A.R. to conceal his unlawful residency in the United States. Melissa Ortiz and Ricardo Ortiz also used the identity of J.A.R. to jointly register vehicles in the name of Melissa Ortiz and J.A.R.

Co-defendants Jorge Fabian Pesqueda Perez, 35, of St. Peters, was sentenced to 16 months prison. Rafael Guerrero, 42, Warrenton, and Magdalena Lopez, 42, Warrenton, pled guilty to the misdemeanor charge of possession of false identification documents were sentenced to one year of probation.

Elizabeth Cervantes, 27, of St. Peters, has pled guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing in January 2013.

This case was investigated by the Missouri Department of Revenue Compliance and Investigation Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Berry handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Pacific Couple Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges Regarding Illegal Aliens - Eureka-Wildwood, MO Patch