Nine undocumented workers charged with identity theft
Workers arrested at American DairyCo plant in Edwards
Nine undocumented immigrants are accused of identity theft, Attorney General Jim Hood announced Monday.
The workers were arrested Thursday at the American DairyCo plant in Edwards after an investigation by the attorney general's Consumer Protection Division.
The workers were identified as: Eduardo Lopez-Cardona, 22; Irvin Mejia-Saavedra, 26; Ramiro Saniago-Monilo, 25; Guillermo Garcia-Cruz, 39; Ludin Maudiel Hernandez-Vasquez, 25; Porfirio Rodriguez-Jimenez, 37; Elvir Molina-Ramirez, 40; Carlos Benigno Garcia-Perez, 20; and Juan Jose Chacon-Ramirez, 34.
They are accused of buying fraudulent Social Security cards.
"This case is a great example of the significance of our federal partnerships,” Hood said. "We appreciate our great working relationship with Homeland Security Investigations.”
“Fraudulent documents threaten our nation’s security by making it easier for criminals to hide in plain sight and commit a range of offenses,” said Jerry Templet, acting deputy special agent in charge of HSI New Orleans. “Further, stolen identity documents create a potential nightmare scenario in which citizens could be held responsible for criminal acts committed by aliens possessing fraudulent identity documents in their names. This investigation shows HSI and its state partners will continue to investigate and seek prosecution of these cases wherever they occur.”
The workers were booked into the Raymond Detention Center and are being held on a $250,000 bond. Once the state charges are resolved, the defendants will be released to ICE custody.