Homeland Security Investigations
Federal agents conducted their own investigation of the matter.
Indictments were handed down Wednesday for 20 undocumented workers arrested late last month, a move that advances the priorities of the Trump Adminstration, a local leader said.
The workers were assigned to Expeditors International by Provide Staffing, a local employment agency. However, Transportation Security Adminstration inspectors found irregularities in their paperwork and then notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
An investigation determined that the men presented false documents between March 2016 and January 2017 to certify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
The indictments remain only allegations and the men are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested 20 men at the warehouse. Thirteen of the men were from Mexico, three were from Guatemala, and four were from Honduras.
They are:
Jamie Ramundo Martinez, a/k/a/ Angel Martinez, 36, Guatemala
Pedro Garcia-Guaneros, a/k/a/ Pedro Garcia, 34, Mexico
Oscar Tepole-Sanchez, a/k/a/ Oscar Tepole, 36, Mexico
Hilda Hernandez-Garduno, a/k/a/ Hilda Hernandez, 37, Mexico
Angel Calmo-Aguilar, a/k/a/ Angel Calmo, 24, Guatemala
Edgar Lopez-Marin, a/k/a/ Edgar Lopez, 37, Mexico
Fernando Ramos-Jacobo, a/k/a/ Fernando Ramos, 27, Mexico
Willivaldo Arenales-Soriano, a/k/a/ Wilibaldo Arenales, 35, Mexico
Fernando Alexi Duran-Reyes, a/k/a/ Eduardo Duran, 43, Honduras
Ramon Paz-Peredes, a/k/a/ Ramon Paz, 47, Honduras
Josue Vaca-Alvarodo, a/k/a/Pedro Cordero, 41, Honduras
Arturo Robles-Larios, 36, Mexico
Sixto Landaverde-Rodriguez, a/k/a/ Sixto Rodruguez, 42, Mexico
Rodolfo Hernandez-Sanchez, a/k/a/ Leonel Sanchez, 37, Mexico
Henry Calmo-Aguilar, a/k/a/ Henry Calmo, 22, Guatemala
Eligio Lopez-Acevedo, 34, Mexico
Artemio Moreno-Gordillo, a/k/a/ Artemio Moreno, 44, Mexico
Jose Moreno-Martinez, 25, Mexico
Marlon Martinez-Martinez, a/k/a/ Marlon Martinez, 36, Honduras
Raquel Delin-Ramos, a/k/a/ Raquel Delin, 32, Mexico
Each man faces federal charges and a sentence of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Dunavant
The news came Wednesday from the office of Michael Dunavant, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Dunavant was nominated by President Donald Trump in June and he was confirmed by the Senate in September.
Dunavant in a news release that the arrests were in line with new priorities from the Trump Adminstration, especially those of his boss, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“”In April, the Attorney General announced a renewed commitment by the Department of Justice to consistently and vigorously pursue criminal immigration enforcement, in order to disrupt organizations and deter unlawful conduct,” said Dunavant in a news release. “This priority includes the aggressive prosecution of aggravated identity theft, document fraud, and misuse of visas and permits in the immigration context.
“These indictments fulfill that priority, protect critical infrastructure sites, and promote lawfulness in our immigration system.”
[pullquote-1]U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a parallel investigation of the matter.
“Individuals that utilize fraudulent identification to obtain restricted access to our nation’s transportation network, whether air, sea, or rail, create a vulnerability to our national supply chain,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI’s efforts in Tennessee. “HSI will continue to partner with our federal and state law enforcement partners to protect our critical infrastructure from exploitation.”
