Memphis, TN – D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today that 20 individuals have been indicted for working under false identities.

On November 28, 2017, law enforcement arrested 20 illegal aliens working under false identities. A Memphis employment agency, Provide Staffing, assigned multiple employees to Expeditors International, a freight forwarder based in Memphis.

In the course of their regular duties, Transportation Security Administration inspectors in Memphis noticed anomalies in Security Threat Assessment paperwork submitted on behalf of Provide Staffing workers on contract to Expeditors International, and referred their findings to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Tennessee Highway Patrol’s (THP) Criminal Investigative Division investigated and arrested these 20 individuals on state charges. ICE Homeland Security Investigations conducted a parallel investigation in coordination with TSA and other law enforcement agencies.

As a result of that investigation, the defendants are alleged to have presented fraudulent documents, between March 2016 and January 2017, to certify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

The Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, amended, and the Immigration and Nationality Act together require employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees using a prescribed form, Form I-9, and require that employees present documents to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Each defendant is charged with knowingly using a false identification document as evidence of

his or her employment eligibility, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546 (a) or Section 1546(b) (2).

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "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. 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."

"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."

The 20 defendants indicted on federal charges include:

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

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum five years imprisonment; $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release to begin after incarceration.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

These cases were investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, Transportation Security Administration and Tennessee Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Delery is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.