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Nine Foreign Nationals Arrested in Benefits Investigation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, along with local law enforcement officers, arrested nine criminal foreign nationals Thursday in Hampton Roads.

Six of the arrested had previous aggravated felony convictions. The remaining three had vanished after an Immigration judge ordered them out of the country.

Officials identified the suspects during an investigation that alleges the nine attempted to obtain various immigration benefits including work authorization, permanent resident status, and naturalization.

Those arrested include:

Tham Tan Vo, a citizen of Vietnam residing in Newport News. Vo was previously convicted of crimes involving carnal knowledge of a child between 13 and 15 years of age.

Selahaddin Kaplan, a citizen of Turkey residing in Williamsburg. Kaplan was previously convicted of crimes involving assault and battery.

Victor Rojas-Duran, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Virginia Beach. Rojas-Duran was previously convicted of crimes involving the possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.

Mohammed Zakari, a citizen of Morocco residing in Virginia Beach. Zakari was previously convicted of crimes involving sexual battery.

Schiller Menard, a citizen of Haiti residing in Virginia Beach. Menard was previously convicted of crimes involving the possession and sale of marijuana and the possession of a firearm.

Xue Qi Lin, Sheng Chao Weng, and Xia Ming Wen, all citizens of China residing in Virginia Beach, were previously ordered removed from the United States by an Immigration judge.

All nine suspects have been placed in removal proceedings and will appear before a federal immigration judge.