Thread: N.C.: 14 enter immigration pleas

Published on Saturday, November 24, 2007

14 enter immigration pleas


By Venita Jenkins
Staff writer

RALEIGH — More than half of the illegal immigrants arrested in August on suspicion of identity theft have entered pleas in federal court.

Some have been sentenced to a year in federal prison. After serving their time, they will face deportation, according to court records. Others are awaiting sentencing.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 25 illegal immigrants Aug. 22 during raids in Cumberland, Bladen, Hoke and Robeson counties. They were current or former employees of Smithfield Packing Co. in Bladen County.

They pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents.

Two of the women who were arrested were released to receive medical attention. One is pregnant. Four immigrants were detained and were being deported.

Richard Rocha, a spokesman with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, could not be reached for comment about the status of those being deported.

Here are the judgments of those who have entered pleas:

Juan Francisco Morales-Baltazar was sentenced Oct. 17 to six months in prison with credit for time served. He must pay a $100 special assessment.
Rufina Martinez-Paz was sentenced Oct. 17 to time served and must pay a $100 special assessment.
Silviano Patricio-Venegas was sentenced Nov. 6 to one year and a day and was placed on three years supervised release. He must pay a $100 special assessment.
Hildiberta Hernandez-Sanchez was sentenced Nov. 6 to one year and a day and was placed on three years supervised release. He must pay a $100 special assessment.
Alfredo Gonzales-Avilez was sentenced Nov. 13 to one year and one day and placed on three years supervised release. He must provide probation officials with access to any requested financial information, and he can’t incur any new credit charges or open any additional lines of credit without the approval of the probation office. He also must submit to a urinalysis test within 15 days of release from prison, among other conditions. He also has to pay a $100 special assessment.
Joel Lucas-Hernandez was sentenced Nov. 13 to three months with credit for time served. He was placed on supervised release for two years and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.
Elodia Reyes-Cruz was ordered on Nov. 14 to undergo a psychological and psychiatric examination to determine her mental competency to stand trial. A hearing on the issue is set for Jan. 22 in U.S. District Court in Wilmington.
The following people entered pleas Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 but have not been sentenced: Maria Reyes-Rojas, Evaristo Hernandez-Rodriguez, Alejandro Tapia-Mojica, Lidia Nieves-Rodriguez, Jose Ramirez-Martinez, Ana Rosalva-Avila and Martina Delacruz-Leyva. They could face a year and a day in prison.

Of the 11 men and 14 women arrested, 22 are from Mexico, two are from Guatemala and one is from Honduras.

Court records state ICE agents found evidence of identity theft. Most of the suspects were charged with using other people’s Social Security numbers to gain employment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has said that some of the victims whose Social Security numbers were used suffered financial losses up to $10,000 each and damaged credit. In one case, a victim’s Social Security wages were being reported at a level that made the person ineligible for subsidized housing.

ICE officials have been reviewing names of Smithfield employees for more than a year.

ICE has conducted two different targeted arrests of suspected illegal immigrants over the past year. The first was in January when 21 workers were arrested at the Tar Heel plant. They were arrested on administrative immigration charges such as being in the U.S illegally or overstaying a work visa.

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=278593

Juan Francisco Morales-Baltazar was sentenced Oct. 17 to six months in prison with credit for time served. He must pay a $100 special assessment.
Rufina Martinez-Paz was sentenced Oct. 17 to time served and must pay a $100 special assessment.
Silviano Patricio-Venegas was sentenced Nov. 6 to one year and a day and was placed on three years supervised release. He must pay a $100 special assessment.
Hildiberta Hernandez-Sanchez was sentenced Nov. 6 to one year and a day and was placed on three years supervised release. He must pay a $100 special assessment.
Alfredo Gonzales-Avilez was sentenced Nov. 13 to one year and one day and placed on three years supervised release. He must provide probation officials with access to any requested financial information, and he can’t incur any new credit charges or open any additional lines of credit without the approval of the probation office. He also must submit to a urinalysis test within 15 days of release from prison, among other conditions. He also has to pay a $100 special assessment.
Joel Lucas-Hernandez was sentenced Nov. 13 to three months with credit for time served. He was placed on supervised release for two years and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.
Elodia Reyes-Cruz was ordered on Nov. 14 to undergo a psychological and psychiatric examination to determine her mental competency to stand trial. A hearing on the issue is set for Jan. 22 in U.S. District Court in Wilmington.

Court records state ICE agents found evidence of identity theft. Most of the suspects were charged with using other people’s Social Security numbers to gain employment. !

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has said that some of the victims whose Social Security numbers were used suffered financial losses up to $10,000 each and damaged credit. In one case, a victim’s Social Security wages were being reported at a level that made the person ineligible for subsidized housing.

They are guilty of entering this country illegally and idenity theft and received light sentences, $100 fines, some placed on 2- 3 years supervised released, one sentenced to drug testing & no credit card use, and another to mental testing. Sounds like an outstanding group!
Some have been sentenced to a year in federal prison. After serving their time, they will face deportation, according to court records. Others are awaiting sentencing. --WHY DON'T ALL FACE DEPORTATION AFTER SERVING THEIR SENTENCE?

How are these people going to work during their 2-3 years supervised release without some form of government papers, green card or the like????

hmmmmmmmm..........some form of punishment, a fine, and supervised release.... IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR THESE CRIMINALS OR AMNESTY?

When you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not wait until he has struck to crush him.
Franklin D. Roosevelt