Mexican military: Visa sale scheme lasted 5 years
By Daniel Borunda
Posted: 12/25/2009 12:00:00 AM MST


A ring accused of renting stolen U.S. immigration documents to people wanting to cross the border had been running their lucrative scheme for five years in downtown Juárez, Mexican military officials said.

Mexican soldiers early Wednesday morning arrested the ringleader and three other men outside the Coper hotel in downtown Juárez where the group was allegedly based.

Joint Operation Chihuahua officials detailed an operation that charged $1,800 to each customer for the use of stolen documents to help them cross the border into the U.S.

Authorities said the ring would buy stolen U.S. border-crossing documents such as laser visas, legal-resident cards and passports for $200 each from thieves.

In downtown Juárez, the ring would offer its services to people from the interior of Mexico, mostly from the state of Durango. In a room at the hotel, the customers were matched up with a document that had a picture of someone similar in appearance.

Before crossing the border, the customers had to pay $900. After walking across the Paso del Norte Bridge accompanied by a ring member with legal documents, the person was charged the other $900 and had to return the rented document.

For an additional fee of $800 in Downtown El Paso, the ring would put the immigrant in contact with a person who would take them to truck drivers who would then smuggle them to their destination.

During Wednesday's arrests, soldiers seized 93 laser visas, 66 legal-resident cards, 19 passports and four handguns, along with marijuana and rock cocaine.
Authorities said the group was also involved in retail-level drug sales in downtown Juárez.

Those arrested were the suspected ringleader Amado Meza MurguÃ*a 44, alias El Negro or El Tizon; and alleged ring members Alberto Ramos Zamarripa, 44, alias La Calabaza (the pumpkin); Fidel Facio Palomo, 45, alias El Chapo or El Puerco (the pig); and Rodolfo RamÃ*rez López, 26, who is originally from Mexico City, nicknamed El Mal Amigo (the bad friend) or El Judas.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com


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