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Eight Indicted in Counterfeit ID Ring

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Harrisonburg, Va.
Posted: 1:28 PM Mar 11, 2008
Last Updated: 3:23 PM Mar 11, 2008

3 comments

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U.S. Attorney John Brownlee announced a federal Grand Jury charged eight people for violation of the country's immigration laws Tuesday.

The investigation leading up to those charges started in August 2007. That's when Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detained four Guatemalans in Harrisonburg who were employees at the Cargill facility in Dayton, Virginia. The three, whose names have not been released, all had Puerto Rican birth certificates, social security cards and Ohio identity cards. They all said they got those IDs from a fellow Cargill employee, Edwin Mendez.

Brownlee says for nine years, Mendez was selling illegally obtained IDs for $600 to illegal aliens in the Harrisonburg area. Mendez is a legal permanent resident of the United States.

Mendez and seven others took illegals to Ohio, where Mendez says it's easier to get identification cards. On October 4, 2007, the group got IDs from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

These are the names listed on the indictment with the charges brought against each person and the maximum penalty they face if they are found guilty:

- Edwin Mendez: one count conspiracy, aggravated ID fraud and identity fraud conspiracy, facing 22 years in prison and/or $500,000 fine.

- Christina Cheatham: one count conspiracy, ID fraud, facing 20 years in prison and/or $500,00 fine.

- Nekeia Mack-Fuller: one count conspiracy, ID fraud, facing 20 years in prison and/or $500,00 fine.

- Luis Rosado-Rodriguez: one count conspiracy, aggravated ID fraud and ID fraud conspiracy, facing 22 years in prison and/or $500,000 fine.

- Jairo Gomez: one count conspiracy, aggravated ID fraud, ID fraud conspiracy, facing 22 years in prison and/or $500,000 fine.

- Juan LNU (Last Name Unknown): one count conspiracy, ID fraud, ID fraud conspiracy, facing 22 years in prison and/or $500,000 fine.

- Michelle Eckerman: one count conspiracy, ID fraud, facing 20 years in prison and/or $500,00 fine.

- Jose Gutierrez-Ramirez: one count conspiracy, aggravated ID fraud, ID fraud conspiracy, facing 22 years in prison and/or $500,000 fine.

Cheatham, Mack-Fuller, Eckerman, Gutierrez-Ramirez, Mendez and Gomez are all currently in custody.

Authorities believe Rosado-Rodriguez is in Puerto Rico and they are trying to identify Juan LNU.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Andrew Location: Harrisonburg on Mar 11, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Treat humans with respect! The term "illegals" is degrading and smacks of a bias which should not be found in a news source.

Posted by: Tina Location: Kentucky on Mar 11, 2008 at 08:01 PM
I understand that immigration is a big issue in our country, but I think the charges are obsurd! How can a convicted murderer recieve 7-15 yrs and these people are facing 22 yrs...thats ridiculous! Something is wrong with that picture to me..

Posted by: Anonymous Location: harrisonburg,va on Mar 11, 2008 at 07:02 PM
we have enough problems in this country on this issue i believe the parties involved need a stronger sentence. and the companies hiring illegals need very stiff fines for doing so. and the third time caught put out of business

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