Crescencio Diaz-Diaz, 36, and Marcelo Perez-Santiz, 33, both from Mexico, have been charged in federal court for illegal reentry into the United States after previous deportations. Diaz-Diaz is also facing charges related to the possession and use of fraudulent employment authorization documents. These charges are part of an ongoing investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to court documents, Diaz-Diaz was deported in 2020 but reentered the U.S. illegally. Federal agents encountered him during a search at Emerald Coast Lawns in Navarre and an adjacent residence. During this operation, agents seized a fake permanent resident card and social security card with Diaz-Diaz’s name but another individual's information. He allegedly admitted to using these documents to secure employment at Emerald Coast.
In a separate case, Perez-Santiz has been accused of returning to the U.S. illegally after being deported three times since 2012. Authorities located him at Emerald Coast Lawns' business address in February and arrested him on July 23 following a criminal complaint. He could face up to two years in prison along with a $250,000 fine.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including ICE Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, the FBI, ATF, Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service, and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia H. Forbes is handling the prosecution.
