4 indicted in smuggling case (Corpus Chrisi Caller Times)

4 indicted in smuggling case

By Katherine Rosenberg
Corpus Christi Caller Times
Posted November 30, 2010 at 7:43 a.m., updated November 30, 2010 at 7:44 a.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI — Four people, including a Portland firefighter and an Army National Guard member, were indicted on charges of smuggling illegal immigrants and money laundering, according to the United States Attorney’s South Texas District Office.

Firefighter Peter Jones, 26; Lorena Martinez, 36; National Guard member Beatrice Rodriguez, 39; and Josesantos Zacarias, 42, were arrested Nov. 23 and all but Zacharias had a detention hearing Monday before a U.S. magistrate judge, according to a news release.

The indictment alleges the four defendants conspired to transport illegal immigrants from Mexico by car from 1993 to 2010. It also accuses all but Zacharias of structuring withdrawals from a bank account to avoid reporting the income, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Amounts less than $10,000 were withdrawn in 2006 to purchase property in Corpus Christi and Portland, according to the news release. The homes now are subject to forfeiture because they allegedly were purchased with money gained from illegal activity.

When searching the home of Jones and Martinez officials, found more than $21,000 in cash and other financial documents. At that time, a fifth person was arrested after being accused of making a false claim of American citizenship, officials said.

At the hearing, Jones and Rodriguez were ordered released after posting $1,000 of a $30,000 bond. Martinez has been ordered detained without bond pending trial. Zacharias remains in custody pending a detention hearing because he is a Mexican national, officials said.

All four counts alleged in the indictment are conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants, conspiracy to launder money and two counts of money laundering carry a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Jones and Martinez made headlines last year when the firefighter delivered his wife’s baby on top of the Harbor Bridge on Christmas Day.