Thread: NY: Prosecutor: Grand jury to review case of 11 accused in c

Prosecutor: Grand jury to review case of 11 accused in check scam

By Leslie Korngold
The Journal News • July 18, 2008

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HARRISON - There will be no misdemeanor deal, nor felony hearings for the 11 suspects in a check cashing scam in West Harrison prosecutors said in court today.

The 11 men, cuffed together in groups of three and two, appeared in Harrison Town Court today after their arrest yesterday, accused in felony complaints of acting in concert and possessing counterfeit checks which they cashed. The complaint says the checks totalled about $17,000, said George Fufidio, the court appointed defense attorney for one of the men.
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The Hispanic men are illegal immigrants, defense and prosecutors said in court, who all have Immigration and Naturalization Service warrants. All but one, Freddy Ramirez Torres of White Plains, told counsel they did not know where they lived. Their country of origin has not been made known.

No bail applications were made in court today due to the men's status as immigration detainees.

The court set a felony hearing for the men, who are being held without bail, for 9 a.m. Wednesday, as required by law.

Attorneys from the District Attorney's Economic Crimes Bureau said they did not want to waste defense counsels' time by setting a hearing date, because the cases were going before a grand jury and they anticipated indictments before Wednesday's hearing. They also said they would not accept misdemeanor pleas from the men.

Counsel for all but Torres told Judge Marc Lust their clients would not testify before a grand jury. Torres's attorney made no indication either way.

The men have been charged with third-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, both felonies, and misdemeanor conspiracy in the fifth-degree.

The men, posing as employees of Westchester Hills Landscaping Co., cashed about 29 checks at the Community Mutual Savings Bank at 29 Taylor Square in Harrison yesterday, a new release from the District Attorney's Office said.

After leaving the bank, the men were apprehended near Harrison Boulevard and Pearl Avenue when they stopped at a garage to inquire about an oil change, police said.
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The suspects

Charged was Freddy Ramirez Torres, 25, of White Plains. Also charged were David Delevega, 42; Raymond Mendoza Soliz, 38; Javier Pedraza Ramirez, 28; Eliazar Boraza, 26; Galdino Mendoza, Luis Antonio Montez and Daniel Gonzales, all 24; Martin Gomez Pedraga and Jorge Martinez, both 23; and Javier Corona Cruz, 20. Police said their addresses were unknown.

Charge them with more crimes, please

ICE get to work

Go pick up their families, too
Deport, them.

All but one don't know where they live.

This is Mexico's best and brightest?

We're screwed.

Put them in jail until their memory returns. Give them to Sheriff JoeThey'll be only too happy to go home.

Originally Posted by SeaTurtle

All but one don't know where they live.

This is Mexico's best and brightest?

We're screwed.

If they don't where where they live and what country they're from, send them to Guantanamo Bay, until they remember. We can't advise their families or consulates of where they are because these men don't know who they are, now can we? When their families will come looking for them, arrest and process for deportation. Whatever happens they must not be allowed to stay in the US!