Second Person Pleads Guilty To Harboring Illegal Aliens
By Ron Wood THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE - A Springdale man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to helping harbor illegal aliens. Prosecutors say Honorato Pedroza, 47, and others provided illegal aliens a place to stay and jobs at two local restaurants, so they could avoid detection. Gema Rivera-Soto, 42, pleaded guilty to the same charges Tuesday. In a deal with prosecutors, Pedroza agreed to plead guilty to one count of a four indictment, aiding and abetting the harboring illegal aliens. The other counts are expected to be dismissed as part of the plea deal at sentencing.
Pedroza was facing up to 35 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines. (I want to know what he's facing now) The charges, which also included money laundering, arose from May 21 raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Agents arrested 15 adult Mexican nationals and four juvenile Mexican nationals in the May 21 raids, dubbed Operation "El Rancho Tejocote." Two adults from El Salvador also were arrested. The investigation began after federal agents allegedly found Pedroza using a Social Security number that wasn't his.
According to a Grand Jury indictment, Rivera-Soto and Pedroza transferred more than $337,000 out of the country. Prosecutors said much of the money came from the harboring illegal immigrants. Sentencing hearings for Pedroza and Rivera-Soto have not yet been set.
Nice to hear some good news. Lets hope that some Sutton prosecutor doesn't come in and try to sue the ICE Agents!
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Judge halts immigrant crackdown
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1909630/posts
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