Tip leads to arrests of suspected illegal workers at Royal Paper in Phoenix (Phoenix Business Journal)

Tip leads to arrests of suspected illegal workers at Royal Paper in Phoenix
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 5:15 PM MST
The Business Journal of Phoenix - by Chris Casacchia Phoenix Business Journal
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office arrested two illegal immigration suspects Tuesday after receiving a tip.
A letter received Tuesday by Sheriff Joe Arpaio listed five suspects who allegedly used fraudulent documents to gain employment at Royal Paper Converting in Phoenix. Two of those were arrested by MCSO and a third is being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials said.
During the criminal investigation at Royal Paper, management provided deputies access to the specific employment records. Investigators determined the five suspects had provided false Social Security numbers and alien registration numbers. Two of them are at large, MCSO officials confirmed.
Margarita Jurado Armostegui, 32, and Anavelia Ocana, 38, were arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail for forgery and identity theft. A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of Guadalupe Patricia Bravo-Ramirez, 21, on forgery charges and identity theft. She is being held at ICE.
Arpaio said MCSO has received more than 3,000 calls since his illegal immigration hotline was established last summer.
During one five-week investigation, five suspects were arrested and charged with a Class 4 felony. Under new laws, that makes them ineligible for bond unless a judge frees them.
"These investigations were stimulated by the calls through our hotline," he said.
MCSO received a hotline tip Feb. 1 regarding an undocumented employee at the Sienna Villa apartments in Glendale. Sheriff's investigators contacted Ramon Perales-Pimiento, 21, who allegedly admitted to being in the United States illegally, police said.
Perales-Pimiento told deputies he had used fraudulent documents to obtain employment with the complex several years ago. He was processed and turned over to federal immigration officials pending a criminal investigation.
On Feb. 11, a tip regarding an individual using fraudulent documents to gain employment at Royal Paper led to the arrest of Sandra Laura Ortega-Morales, 23, after it was learned she had used another person's identity, a fraudulent alien registration number and a fake Social Security number.
Another tip, received March 4, led to the arrest of an undocumented worker at the Native New Yorker restaurant in Chandler. A review of the records determined two former employees had used false documentation to gain employment there. Arnoldo Cervantes, 23, informed investigators he had purchased fraudulent documents, including a false Social Security number, to gain employment at the pizza restaurant. Cervantes is in the custody of federal immigration officials pending further criminal investigation.
Arpaio long has promised to crack down on illegal immigration in Maricopa County, and has used national and local media outlets to tout his plan.
"Now we're hitting the workplaces and seeing if there's any violations of sanctions laws," he said.
Nearly two years ago, Arpaio formed a special anti-smuggling unit that now includes 160 federal immigration-trained officers. He also has enlisted the help of citizens and a volunteer posse to scout for illegal immigrants.