I.C.E. News Release

October 9, 2008

East Texas woman arrested on identity fraud charges

TEXARKANA, Texas - A 41-year-old Mount Pleasant, Texas, woman was arrested Thursday on charges of identification document fraud. U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory, Eastern District of Texas, announced the arrest. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made the arrest and is conducting the investigation.

Hope Anguiano appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in Texarkana Oct. 9 on an indictment that charges her with conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification documents, fraud in connection with identification documents, and aggravated identity theft.

The indictment presented in court alleges that Anguiano was an employee in the Human Resources department of Pilgrim's Pride and that she and a co-defendant, Lucio Ramirez, conspired to provide identification documents to applicants for employment who did not have proper identification documents.

If convicted, Anguiano could receive up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of either guilt or innocence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan R. Jackson, Eastern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 9, 2008
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0810/081009texarkana.htm