Eight face federal charges after Canton workplace immigration probe

Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
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A federal grand jury in Akron, Ohio, has indicted eight individuals on charges related to immigration and identity theft. The defendants were discovered on August 6 at a manufacturing facility in Canton, according to court documents.

Four of the defendants had previously been removed from the United States and were found in Ohio without approval from either the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for reentry.

The following individuals have been charged:

– Marcial Ajanel-Alvarez, 46, of Guatemala: Illegal Reentry of Removed Alien; previously removed December 27, 2011.
– Emilio Alvarez-Perez, 31, of Guatemala: Illegal Reentry of Removed Alien; previously removed September 4, 2013; False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Engage Unlawfully in Employment; Misuse of Social Security number; Aggravated Identity Theft.
– Justo-Amaya Calles, 55, of El Salvador: Illegal Reentry of Removed Alien; previously removed December 3, 2012; False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Engage Unlawfully in Employment; Misuse of Social Security number; Aggravated Identity Theft.
– Domingo Calel-Herrera, 34, of Guatemala: False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Engage Unlawfully in Employment; Unlawful Use of Identification Documents; Misuse of Social Security Number; Aggravated Identity Theft.
– Juan De Leon Hernandez, 33, of Guatemala: False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Engage Unlawfully in Employment; Misuse of Social Security Number; Aggravated Identity Theft.
– Pedro De Leon Hernandez, 21, of Guatemala: False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Engage Unlawfully in Employment; Unlawful Use of Identification Documents; Misuse of Social Security Number; Aggravated Identity Theft.
– Diego Perez-Ajanez, 37, of Guatemala: Illegal Reentry of Removed Alien (previously removed May 19, 2013); False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Engage Unlawfully in Employment; Misuse of Social Security Number; Aggravated Identity Theft.
– Victor Ramos-Santis, 44, of Guatemala: False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Engage Unlawfully in Employment; Misuse of Social Security Number; Aggravated Identity Theft.

The cases resulted from an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Rolph is leading the prosecution for these cases on behalf of the Northern District of Ohio.

These indictments are part of Operation Take Back America. This national initiative uses Department of Justice resources with goals that include addressing illegal immigration and targeting transnational criminal organizations and violent crime.

“An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”



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