More than 100 criminals who posed a threat to public safety, national security and border security were arrested in Utah, Nevada and Idaho during the last week in February, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) news release.
Among those arrested was a 31-year old Laotian man who evaded law enforcement authorities for almost 14 years after he was previously convicted in Utah of attempted homicide:
- A 36-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of larceny;
- A 50-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of domestic violence;
- A 38-year-old El Salvadoran national who was convicted of DUI;
- A 54-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of cruelty toward a child;
- A 42-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of prostitution.
Jason Somchanmavong, 31, an aggravated felon, is now in ICE custody waiting removal to his home country. He was convicted of attempted homicide and discharging a firearm from a vehicle Feb. 13, 2006.
In addition to Somchanmavong's arrest, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers made more than 110 arrests in Utah, Nevada and Idaho during the last week of February. Recent arrests include:
"We applaud ICE for removing a known dangerous illegal alien from the community and sparing innocent Americans from possible harm," said Maria Espinoza, National Director of The Remembrance Project.
"We would like to see a more expeditious conviction and removal process with future cases prosecuted in these states" Espinoza added.
"There must also be justice for the American taxpayer; Congress must seek to be reimbursed from the Mexican government," she emphasized.
A Mexican national and an illegal alien of an undetermined country of origin are among four people who pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to manufacture and sell fake green cards ( Lawful Permanent Resident - LRP cards) and social security cards, announced the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of California.
FRESNO, Calif. — Elfego Alcala, 47, Tamilene Cisneros, 49, and Aida Corona, 38, of Visalia, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and production of false identification documents, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between Feb. 2018 and Aug. 8, 2018, the defendants conspired to produce and sell false identification documents. On March 12, 2018, they engaged in a transaction in which they manufactured and sold three false Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR or “green card”) and three false Social Security cards that appeared to be issued by and under the authority of the United States.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case.
Co-conspirator Maria Elena Soriano Salinas, 58, previously pleaded guilty to the same offenses and to being a deported alien found in the United States. On Nov. 4, 2019, she was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Alcala, Cisneros, and Corona are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on March 27. They each face a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Court filing reveal Aida Corona was ordered to surrender a Mexican passport back in July 2019 as part of ongoing immigration proceedings at the time.
The case is 1:18-cr-00182-LJO.
