OMAHA, Neb. — Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Kansas Metropolis appearing Particular Agent in Cost Taekuk Cho and U.S. Legal professional Steven A. Russell introduced that Cristian Yanira Ruiz-Cardona, 28, was sentenced on April 6, 2023 in federal court docket in Omaha, Nebraska, to be used of immigration paperwork not lawfully issued, false illustration of a Social Safety quantity with intent to deceive, and making a false declare to U.S. citizenship. The sentencing follows a joint HSI and Nebraska Division of Motor Automobiles (NEDMV) Fraud Unit Chief investigation.
U.S. District Choose Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Ruiz to three years of probation, together with a situation of house detention for 180 days. Ruiz might later face elimination from the US to Guatemala.
In March 2022, HSI acquired info from the Nebraska Division of Motor Automobiles (NEDMV) Fraud Unit relating to an identification theft case beneath investigation by the Dixon County Sheriff’s Workplace. A suspect in that case used fraudulent identification paperwork within the identify of “C.M.” to work at Michael’s Meals in Wakefield. The suspect advised the deputy that she had used a Social Safety card and identification card — the fraudulent C.M. identification paperwork — obtained from Ruiz, and that Ruiz required that the suspect to return them to her.
HSI realized that the U.S. Border Patrol had arrested Ruiz in 2009. She was positioned in elimination proceedings at the moment and launched. In 2020, HSI acquired info that the defendant was promoting identification paperwork in Wakefield. She was arrested once more however was launched as a result of lack of jail house. On the time, she was not prosecuted for promoting identification paperwork, but it surely was decided that she was working for Michael’s Meals in Wakefield beneath one other identification, “A.C.”
On the time she was arrested on this case, Ruiz was working at Williams Kind Engineering in Wayne beneath the identification of C.M., the identical identification she offered to the suspect within the Dixon County case to be used at Michael’s Meals. Ruiz used counterfeit identification paperwork in C.M.’s identify, together with a Kansas identification card and a Social Safety card bearing C.M.’s Social Safety quantity, as proof of identification to acquire employment. Ruiz additionally attested that she was a U.S. citizen in the course of the hiring course of.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), chargeable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these prison organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure via which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of greater than 8,700 staff consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through the US, and 93 abroad areas in 56 nations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative legislation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. legislation enforcement.
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