Illegal aliens plead guilty in check scam

Friday, May 02, 2008 - 09:28 PM

By Morning News Staff Reports
Eleven illegal aliens pleaded guilty in federal court to being in the U.S. without authorization and for attempting to pass counterfeit payroll checks, according to a press release issued Friday by acting U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald.
Prosecutors say Alfredo Bautista-Bello, Miguel Antonio Mayen-Cardona, Daniel Chacon, Mario Macias-Hernandez, Viridiana Macias-Hernandez, Oscar Lopez, Pablo Noe Maldonado-Larios, Pedro Mundo-Cruz, Victor Sanchez, Sergio Perez and Hugo Vega were involved in a counterfeit check cashing scam at a Piggly Wiggly in Johnsonville in October.
The U.S. Secret Service later discovered the same group had passed more than $6,000 in counterfeit checks in Marion and had done the same thing in other U.S. cities, according to the release.
The maximum penalty each person could receive is a $250,000 fine and 10 years in prison. All face deportation after serving their sentences.
The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. Day II.

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