Odd deportation drama unfolds (The Press-Enterprise)

Odd deportation drama unfolds
09:35 PM PST on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise

Authorities are investigating a Hemet man suspected of posing as a United States marshal to kidnap a woman and falsely deport her to the Philippines, according to a Hemet police report.

Hemet police arrested Greg Raymond Denny Jr., 37, last month on suspicion of kidnapping and impersonating an officer. Federal authorities also are investigating claims that he used a fake badge to bypass San Diego airport security and put the woman on a plane to her home country, where she remains.

"The Transportation Security Administration is aware of and reviewing an incident where an individual allegedly presented falsified law enforcement credentials at San Diego's Lindbergh Field," according to a statement from the TSA.

Denny, who is a distant cousin of the woman's husband, Craig Hibbard, is now free on $50,000 bond. Police arrested him three days after the incident when he came in for questioning at the police station, wearing a fake marshal's badge and a replica of a pistol on his hip.

Denny said Monday by phone that the kidnapping claims are false, but did not elaborate.

Authorities said they aren't sure what the motive was. But Denny told police that Craig Hibbard's father called him to report that the woman was in the country illegally and having problems at their home, said Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart.

"I do think the story is true and just took a while for the family to let it sink in and realize something wasn't right," Wisehart said. "I think this guy thought he was doing a favor because they wanted her deported and he went about it the wrong way."

No other arrests have been made or are expected soon, Wisehart said.

According to police, Denny entered the woman's home Jan. 15.

Wearing a shirt that said "U.S. Marshal," Denny flashed a circled-star badge quickly and declared he was there to deport her, said Hemet police Lt. Mark Richards.

Police said Denny handcuffed Cherriebelle Hibbard at gunpoint and took her from the home on Stepstone Court.

At the time, Hibbard's family believed Denny was a marshal, even though he refused to show them the immigration paperwork.

Craig Hibbard said in a telephone interview that he agreed to cooperate after Denny threatened to put his wife in jail. Hibbard said he had only met his cousin twice and thought he was a federal agent.

Three days after his wife, who is a citizen of the Philippines, was put on the plane, he called the U.S. Marshal's Service and officials told him Denny was not an agent, Craig Hibbard said. After that, he called Hemet police.

"I didn't question it," Craig Hibbard said. "He had the shirt on and a badge and everything. He looked real and had an ID that said, 'U.S. marshal.' "

The U.S. Marshal's Service is investigating, spokesman Brian Valladarez said.

The case is also under review by the Riverside County district attorney's office, which could file charges or refer the case to the U.S. attorney's office.

Hemet police said they have forwarded the case to the San Diego FBI. Special Agent Darrell Foxworth said the FBI could not confirm or deny an investigation is under way.

Federal marshals are presidentially appointed, and the agency employs about 3,340 deputies and investigators nationwide. Marshals usually are tasked with finding federal fugitives, guarding federal judges and transporting federal prisoners.

Stuck in Manila

Reached by phone Monday in Manila, Cherriebelle Hibbard said she doesn't know whether she is allowed to come back to the United States.

Her U.S. immigration status is unclear, even to her.

Her husband said she is five months pregnant and that they have been married for three years. He said she canceled her green card last year in a dispute with him, saying she wanted to go home to the Philippines.

The couple later reconciled and she tried to renew her immigration documents prior to the confrontation with Denny, he said. Craig Hibbard said they were told by immigration officials in San Bernardino at the time that the green card was being processed and she was allowed to stay in the United States.

Cherriebelle Hibbard said she had never met Denny and didn't realize he was her husband's cousin until after she was deported. She said she had no prior knowledge about the plot to deport her.

"Honestly no. I had no idea. ... He just only knock on door so hard and when he get inside the house, he say, 'Where is she, where is she?' I know I'm the one he's been looking for," Cherriebelle Hibbard said. "I can't do anything about it. I'm pregnant and don't want to take the kids away from my husband."

Denny left with Cherriebelle Hibbard, saying he was going to take the woman to the U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta in southwest Riverside County.

He returned with her an hour later, saying border agents wouldn't take his prisoner, according to the police report. He then said he was going to take her to the San Diego airport.

Police said Denny forced Craig Hibbard to buy his wife a plane ticket and to have his mother drive Denny and Cherriebelle to the airport.

Craig Hibbard's mother Nancy told police that Denny was wearing his holstered weapon and showed his badge to three airport security officers. He was cleared to proceed through security and put Cherriebelle Hibbard on a plane to San Francisco en route to Manila, according to the police report.

Denny told police he walked the woman to the gate, took off the handcuffs and watched her board the plane.

At the airport in San Francisco, Cherriebelle Hibbard said she was told by customs agents there was no deportation record on file. She said she told them she had to go to the Philippines because she gave Denny her U.S. entry visa form and she feared going to prison if she didn't comply.

Police said Denny returned from the airport to Hemet.

Blown cover

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lori Haley said federal marshals do not carry out deportation orders.

When an immigration hold is found, only ICE agents or FBI agents carry out an arrest. The defendant is then permitted a due process hearing before immigration issues a deportation order.

Denny was called by Hemet police for questioning Jan. 18. He entered the Hemet police station wearing a fake gun in his holster, with a T-shirt that read "federal agent" and the fake marshal's badge around his neck, Lt. Richards said.

Denny identified himself as a marshal and offered knowledge related to the agency's leadership organization and his training, Richards said. Police checked Denny's records and found he was never employed by the Marshal's Service or any law enforcement agency.

He listed his profession as working in fugitive apprehension for Absolute Bail Bonds.

Denny admitted to impersonating a marshal and verified the family's account, Richards said.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Omar Castillo said impersonating a federal agent usually carries federal felony charges. Though cases of impersonating agents are rare, Castillo said it does occur occasionally.

"It depends on the circumstances surrounding it," Castillo said. "If he's wearing a weapon or a handgun, then he's likely facing serious charges. And if he deported someone, that's basically kidnapping."