May 31, 2007 9:11 pm US/Mountain

Officials Investigate Peruvian Diplomat In Denver

Contact reporter Brian Maass at bmaass@cbs.com
Brian Maass
Reporting

(CBS4) DENVER Peru's Consulate General Office in Denver has come under federal scrutiny after law enforcement agents arrested the Deputy Consul's brother and charged him with Social Security fraud and misusing visas. Federal authorities are now investigating if anyone in the Peruvian Consulate assisted in the illegal scheme, according to one law enforcement source.

Recently unsealed federal documents show that law enforcement agents arrested Oscar Silva-Rivera in May. His brother is Ramiro Maurice Silva, Deputy Consul with the Peruvian Consulate in Denver. Peru has a Denver consulate staffed by six people promoting trade and tourism with Peru, as well as issuing visas and passports. Ramiro Silva is the number two official in the consulate.

Oscar Silva-Rivera entered the U.S. legally in April, 2005, but his visa prohibited him from obtaining employment, according to a federal affidavit. The federal investigation shows that a month after arriving in Denver, Silva-Rivera began working at Shamrock Foods in Commerce City in the warehouse and seafood departments using his brother's Social Security number, name and date of birth. He remained at Shamrock Foods until August, 2006. The following month, federal authorities tracked Silva-Rivera to a cleaning company where they say he worked again using the name and Social Security number of his brother, Silva.

Senior Special Agent Jeffrey Lembke with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote, "Oscar Silva-Rivera is utilizing the identity of his brother, Ramiro Silva-Rivera ... to gain unlawful employment." Lembke also wrote that Oscar Silva-Rivera used a counterfeit alien registration card to work at a local cleaning company.

Unanswered in the federal documents, was the Deputy Consul a victim of identity fraud or a participant in the scheme? One law enforcement source connected to the investigation said agents are looking into precisely what role the Deputy Consul played.

"I cannot disclose any information," said Deputy Consul Ramiro Silva when contacted by CBS4. "It's not my issue," he said before declining to answer questions and hanging up the phone.

His boss, Consul General Marita Landaveri indicated her deputy was a victim of the scheme, not a participant. "He knew nothing," said Landaveri. "He's a diplomat from Peru. He knows that's not done, it's against the law. He has nothing to hide."

Jeff Dorschner, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver, declined to provide comment, citing an ongoing federal investigation.

Oscar Silva- Rivera is being held without bond by federal authorities.

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