3 plead guilty to ID document fraud
News Sentinel staff
Originally published 02:11 p.m., August 8, 2008
Updated 02:11 p.m., August 8, 2008

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Three men have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to identification document fraud.

Ermilo Herrera-Juarez, Gelber Herrera-Juarez, and Hugo Benedicto Herrera-Perez, all of Guatemala, admitted Thursday to using fraudulent documents to obtain employment in the United States in violation of immigration laws, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

All three will be sentenced Dec. 2 before U.S. District Judge Leon Jordan.

Each faces a maximum punishment of up to five years imprisonment; $250,000 in fines; deportation immediately upon completion of the term of imprisonment; up to three years supervised release; and, a $100 special assessment.

The three entered the United States illegally and were arrested March 18 by the Morristown Police Department, which executed a search warrant on a Morristown residence, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Police found an active identification document mill, which generated false resident alien cards used by the three men to procure employment in Knoxville and Morristown.

In some instances the false resident alien cards used the identities and alien numbers of lawful permanent residents. In other instances, the false resident alien cards used fictitious identities and alien numbers, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Charges are pending against the person who generated the false identification documents.

The three men were indicted May 14 as the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Morristown police.

More details as they develop online and in Saturday's News Sentinel.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/aug/0 ... ent-fraud/