Illegal immigrants arrested in connection with bribery case...

Illegal immigrants arrested in connection with bribery case

The Associated Press Article Launched: 03/19/2008 08:39:36 PM MDT


ALBUQUERQUE—Four Mexican nationals have been ordered held without bond after they were arrested in connection with a bribery case involving the illegal purchase of legitimate resident alien cards.

Special agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the arrests Saturday as part of a six-month joint investigation

Luis Daniel Miramontes-Morales, 44, is accused of paying $12,000 in cash to a federal agent he believed was a corrupt government employee in exchange for four green cards. He is charged with bribing a public official.

Miramontes-Morales' wife, Guadalupe Miramontes-Morales, 43; his sister, Margarita Ordonez-Quintana, 33; and his brother-in-law, Francisco Javier Ordonez-Morales, 44, are charged with illegally entering the United States.

The four drove from Colorado—where they had been living—to Albuquerque on Saturday to pick up their green cards. Instead, they were arrested by federal agents.

"ICE relentlessly works to detect, investigate and prosecute anyone who tries to circumvent our immigration laws to obtain an immigration benefit," said Roberto Medina, special agent in charge of the

ICE Office of Investigations in El Paso, Texas. "We remain vigilant and we will continue to strengthen our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies to maintain the integrity of our immigration system."



http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_8631195