Thread: MO--Immigrants face federal fraud charges

Immigrants face federal fraud charges

ASSOCIATED PRESS
04/11/2008

ST. LOUIS -- The co-owner of a Kirksville restaurant and six others are accused in a scheme to allegedly use fraudulent Social Security numbers so illegal immigrants could work at the restaurant.

U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway announced the federal indictments Friday. Among those accused is 33-year-old Neftali Lopez of El Vaquero restaurant.

The indictment alleges that Lopez hired his brother-in-law and five others to work at the restaurant, even though he knew they were in the U.S. illegally. He allegedly instructed the employees to obtain false Social Security cards and resident alien cards.

All are accused of conspiracy to defraud, identity theft, and Social Security fraud. Neftali Lopez and Zoraida Lopez are also charged with harboring illegal aliens.

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El Vaquero owner, six others indicted for social security fraud

Published: Saturday, April 12, 2008 11:52 AM CDT


KIRKSVILLE - The owner of the El Vaquero Restaurant has been indicted on federal charges for fraudulent use of social security cards and harboring illegal aliens.

Neftali Lopez, 33, was indicted Wednesday along with six other El Vaquero employees by a federal grand jury on multiple felony charges, including conspiracy to defraud, identity theft, and social security fraud.

U.S. District Attorney Catherine Hanaway announced the indictments in a press release Friday afternoon.


"The seven individuals charged were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to use fraudulent social security numbers for the employment of undocumented workers at the El Vaquero Restaurant," Hanaway stated in the release. "Additonally, Neftali and Zoraida Lopez are charged with concealing and shielding the undocumented workers from the detection of authorities."

According to the indictment, Neftali Lopez hired the other six to work at the restaurant, knowing they entered the United States illegally.

Lopez allegedly instructed employees to obtain false social security cards and resident alien cards and provided information about distributors of these false cards.



The indictment alleges from February 2006 to March 2008, Neftali and Zoraida Lopez, 31, falsified employment verification forms for:

- Julie Cesar Villa Navarro, 24, Kirksville;

- Filemon Abrajan Beltran, 36, Kirksville;



- Jesus Villalba Pedrosa, 35, Kirksville;

- Amrocio Olvera Alvarez, 56, Kirksville;

- Pedro Santos, 23, Kirksville.



Convictions on all four charges would carry a prison sentence up to 27 years and fines up to a $1 million.

The harboring illegal alien charge faced by Neftali and Zoraida Lopez includes a five year prison sentence with a fine up to $250,000.

FBI agents raided the North Baltimore restaurant March 28, and several documents were seized. Neftali Lopez said the documents were regarding employees' social security numbers.



The restaurant closed for a day after the previous raid, but remains open today.

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