Ninth worker in raid pleads innocent
From staff reports • September 30, 2008

A ninth worker arrested during an Aug. 25 raid of Howard Industries in Laurel pleaded innocent Monday in U.S. District Court to federal criminal charges of identity theft.


U.S. Magistrate Michael Parker scheduled a Dec. 15 trial for Tomas Juarez-Perez of Laurel. Parker also ordered Juarez-Perez to remain held without bond.

Federal court officials said Juarez-Perez was indicted this month by a federal grand jury on three separate counts, including aggravated identity theft, fraud and misuse of identity cards and misuse of a Social Security card.

Juarez-Perez was among 595 workers caught in a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at Howard Industries.

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