Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
A federal grand jury in Akron, Ohio has indicted eight individuals on charges related to immigration and identity theft. The indictments follow an August 6 discovery at a manufacturing facility in Canton, where the defendants were found.
According to court documents, four of the individuals had previously been removed from the United States but were located in Ohio without permission from the U.S. Attorney General or Secretary for Homeland Security.
The defendants face various charges:
- Marcial Ajanel-Alvarez, 46, of Guatemala: Illegal reentry after being removed from the United States on December 27, 2011.
- Emilio Alvarez-Perez, 31, of Guatemala: Illegal reentry following removal on September 4, 2013; false claim to U.S. citizenship for employment; misuse of a Social Security number; aggravated identity theft.
- Justo-Amaya Calles, 55, of El Salvador: Illegal reentry after removal on December 3, 2012; false claim to U.S. citizenship for employment; misuse of a Social Security number; aggravated identity theft.
- Domingo Calel-Herrera, 34, of Guatemala: False claim to U.S. citizenship for employment; unlawful use of identification documents; misuse of a Social Security number; aggravated identity theft.
- Juan De Leon Hernandez, 33, of Guatemala: False claim to U.S. citizenship for employment; misuse of a Social Security number; aggravated identity theft.
- Pedro De Leon Hernandez, 21, of Guatemala: False claim to U.S. citizenship for employment; unlawful use of identification documents; misuse of a Social Security number; aggravated identity theft.
- Diego Perez-Ajanez, 37, of Guatemala: Illegal reentry after removal on May 19, 2013; false claim to U.S. citizenship for employment; misuse of a Social Security number; aggravated identity theft.
- Victor Ramos-Santis, 44, of Guatemala: False claim to U.S. citizenship for employment; misuse of a Social Security number; aggravated identity theft.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Rolph is leading the prosecution in these cases.
“These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
Authorities noted that indictments are only allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
