Thread: Arpaio's deputies raid Phoenix business in ID-theft case

Joe Arpaio's deputies raid west Phoenix business in ID-theft case

by JJ Hensley - May. 6, 2010 08:57 AM
The Arizona Republic

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's deputies are conducting a work-site raid at a business park in west Phoenix.

The deputies are searching for about 35 people who are suspected of identity theft.

The business, Laser Masters, sells printer cartridges and toner.

The investigation into the theft ring began after a tip came into Arpaio's immigration hotline about 6 months ago.

The deputies entered the business park near 48th Avenue and Van Buren Street about 8:30 Thursday morning and were expected to remain on the scene for a few hours.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... z0nAjpYas7

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... 06-ON.html

Business raided for alleged illegal workers
by Jim Cross/KTAR (May 6th, 2010 @ 8:54am)
Comments:67

PHOENIX -- More than a dozen people believed to be in the United States illegally and using false work documents were arrested in a raid on a west Phoenix business Thursday.

The raid was at Laser Masters, a printer ink cartridge business at 49th Avenue and Van Buren Street.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the timing of the raid had nothing to do with a visit to Phoenix by the Rev. Al Sharpton, his arch-enemy on the topic of illegal immigration. Sharpton led a march through downtown Phoenix Wednesday night to protest Arizona's tough new law that gives local law enforcement officer sweeping powers to pursue suspected illegal immigrants.

"If I wanted timing, I would have done it yesterday, with all the demonstrators and the holiday (Cinco de Mayo)," Arpaio said. "Why didn't I do it yesterday?"

He added, "I wish he (Sharpton) was here now to see our operation instead of marching down streets and complaining when he doesn't know what he's talking about."

One woman screamed at deputies as they put her husband in a sheriff's bus Thursday.

"I'm proud to say my husband is a Mexican, he's my husband," said Josephine Almanzar. She said her husband has worked at the business for 10 years and the couple has five children.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio responded, "I feel sorry for all the kids when their parents are in jail, not just this situation."

Ten people tried to escape capture during the raid, which targeted illegal immigrants with possibly stolen identities, Arpaio said. He said deputies were looking for 35 suspects.

The investigation began six months ago after a tip to the sheriff's hotline about alleged illegals working at Laser Masters, Arpaio said.

"We did it very professionally. We could have come in here with guns drawn. We could take the guns out when police are trying to escape -- there's a danger there. We didn't do that, so the bottom line is we came in here enforcing the laws."

The raid was the sheriff's 32nd operation since the employer sanctions law went into effect in early 2009.

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