Longtime illegal worker from Mexico busted with fake documents after border patrol probe in Soo – Cost for documents only $300
Possession of a Falsely Made I-551 Alien Resident Card
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
1-906-273-2433
(Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) – A longtime illegal Mexican with a criminal assault record has been busted by federal border agents as part of an ongoing probe into illegals with fake papers at job sites in Saul Ste. Marie, MI including an alleged ring providing false documents.
A felony criminal complaint was filed this past week in Marquette, MI against Jose Luis Maciel-Garcia for alleged federal crimes in Chippewa County. Maciel-Garcia was ordered held without bond on Thurs., Dec. 22, 2016 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy P. Greeley in Marquette for “Possession of a Falsely Made I-551 Alien Resident Card.”
The ongoing probe involves the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protections and the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) – and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The probe began on Dec. 6, 2016, when Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Todd Wilton received information from an HSI documented Confidential Informant (CI).
“The CI stated that approximately 10 to 15 undocumented immigrants (UDI’s) were working at the Meijer Store currently under construction in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan,” state the felony criminal complaint against Jose Luis Maciel-Garcia, that was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan – Northern Division. The CI provided information about a vehicle on the job site – a 2002 Black Chevrolet Tahoe – registered to Yesenia Valencia of Memphis, Tennessee, a citizen of Mexico with “no legal right to work, reside or be present in the United States.”
U.S. Border Patrol Agents in the Soo began following the vehicle on Dec. 8, 2016 “from the Meijer Store to a local gas station.” That’s when the occupants of the Tahoe were confront by USBP Special Agent Alexander Carlson and USBP Special Agent Donald Natzke. An occupant of the SUV, Jose Luis Maciel-Garcia “admitted he is a citizen/national of Mexico” and illegally in the U.S. – and was placed under administrative arrest and transported to the Border Patrol Station for processing.”
At the Border Patrol Station, Maciel-Garcia was searched by USBP Special Agent Craig Benton. Maciel-Garcia was allegedly “found in possession of multiple forms of identification” bearing the name Saul Reyes Andrade – including a “Permanent Resident Card (I-551) card.”
Border patrol agent Benton “asked Maciel-Garcia if he was from El Salvador” as the permanent resident card “had fraudulently displayed.” However, Maciel-Garcia admitted “he was from Mexico and had the I-551 to apply for work.”
The complaint states Maciel-Garcia admitted he used false names when”encountered by law enforcement” Including: Luciano Garcia-Ortega, Saul Reyes-Andrade and Jesus Herrera-Maciel. After fessing up and with help from a family member, Maciel-Garcia was “later able to produce a
Mexican birth certificate bearing the name Jose Luis Maciel-Garcia.”
Holy Batcave Batman: Mammoth find
The suspect’s fingerprints revealed that he (Maciel-Garcia) was convicted of assault on August 15, 2003 in Mammoth, Arizona. Apprised of (and understanding) his Miranda rights, Maciel-Garcia started a tale of illegally living and trying to survive in the U.S. for two decades.
The U.S. Border Patrol Agents:
U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI):
USBP HSI Special Agent Jason Michael Fullerton
USBP HSI Special Agent Todd Wilton
USBP Special Agent Alexander Carlson
USBP Special Agent Donald Natzke
USBP Special Agent Craig Benton
The USBP criminal complaint provided the following summary of the statement made by Maciel-Garcia:
Maciel-Garcia said he was born in Mexico and lived in the United States for 20 years. He said he illegally entered the United States near Naco, Arizona. He said he purchased the fraudulent Permanent Resident Card (I-551) card for $300 (USD) and knew the I-551 card was fraudulent.
On December 9, 2016, TFO Fullerton contacted Roxanne Foley, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, regarding a Construction Contract Services identification card that was found in Maciel-Garcia’s possession.
The Construction identification card was issued under the name of Saul Reyes Andrade and contained a picture of Maciel-Garcia, as did the fraudulent I-551 card found in Maciel’s possession. Foley stated that Maciel-Garcia attended a certification course at the aforementioned college. Foley stated that Maciel-Garcia had utilized a Texas identification card bearing the name Saul Reyes Andrade as part of obtaining the certification course.
On December 13, 2016, Homeland Security Investigations SA Alpers and your affiant interviewed an employee at the Check-n-Go, located at 4240 Interstate 75 Business Spur, Unit 26, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 49783. During Maciel-Garcia’s post-Miranda interview, he claimed to have cashed his paychecks received from “The Bridge” (the name of the company from which he received his paychecks) at the aforementioned check cashing business.
The Check-n-Go employee confirmed that persons wishing to cash paychecks are required to show a form of photo identification. Further, the Check-n-Go employee confirmed that Maciel-Garcia had cashed several checks at that location using the fraudulent I-551 bearing the name Saul Reyes Andrade as identification.
USBP Probe Conclusion:
Based upon the aforementioned facts, Jose Luis Maciel-Garcia is illegally present in the United States and knowingly purchased and possessed a counterfeit Permanent Resident Card (I-551) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a)
The Players in the Probe:
United States Border Patrol (USBP)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Task Force Officer (TFO)
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
HSI documented Confidential Informant (CI)
Criminal Complaint:
Jose Luis Maciel-Garcia an undocumented immigrant from Mexico
Documents including resident card allegedly faked for $300 – and/or documents mentioned during probe:
Permanent Resident Card (I-551) card
Construction Contract Services identification card
The “Bridge” company in question:
Maciel-Garcia cashed his paychecks received from “The Bridge”
Name of the company on his paychecks that he cashed at a check cashing business – The Check-n-GoJob site mentioned:
The Meijer Store under construction in Sault Ste. Marie, MI
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Sources contacted by the feds during probe:
Roxanne Foley, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, about a Construction Contract Services identification card
Employee at the Check-n-Go at 4240 Interstate 75 Business Spur, Unit 26 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI
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Vehicle:
2002 Black Chevrolet Tahoe
Registered to Yesenia Valencia of Memphis, Tennessee.
Valencia is a citizen/national of Mexico with no legal right to work, reside or be present in the United States.
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Probe turn up other fake names/countries:
Saul Reyes Andrade of El Salvador
Luciano Garcia-Ortega
Saul Reyes-Andrade
Jesus Herrera-Maciel
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Related links and info:
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/sault-ste-marie-mi-port-entry-construction-project
United States Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protections
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/sault-sainte-marie
https://www.sault-canada.com/en/qualityoflife/bordercrossing.asp
http://www.borderpatroledu.org/michigan/sault-sainte-marie
Upper Peninsula Breaking News by Greg Peterson 