June 27 , 2006

WIFE OF WICHITA MAN
CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
INDICTED, TOO

Other indictments include 50-pound pot bust in Wichita, firearms charges

WICHITA, KAN. – The wife of a Wichita man charged with immigration violations has been indicted on 14 similar charges including aggravated identity theft.

Maria Leticia Ortega, 44, who is a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of making a false statement on an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form, two counts of misusing a Social Security number, one count of making a false claim of being a lawful permanent resident, two counts of using false documents with intent to defraud the United States government; one count of possession of false U.S. documents, and 7 counts of aggravated identity theft.

“The indictment states that Mrs. Ortega obtained employment at Brij Systems, LLC., 700 E. 10th in Wichita, using a false Social Security card bearing an account number that was assigned to a United States citizen from California whose last name is Greenlee, and a false Permanent Resident Card with an alien registration number assigned to a citizen of Bulgaria whose last name was Koteva,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.

A warrant for her arrest was issued June 26 and the U. S. Attorney’s office issued a bulletin seeking the public’s help in finding her. She was quoted in a June 21 article by the Associated Press saying she was going into hiding and planned to return with her children to Mexico.

In her husband’s case, the grand jury Tuesday returned a second superceding indictment charging Rogelio Ortega-Guzman, 41, a citizen of Mexico, with one count of using a false document to be employed, two counts of misusing a Social Security number; two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of falsely stating on an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form that he was a lawful permanent resident; one count of giving a false Alien Registration number on an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form; and one count of causing false information to be reported to Social Security. He first was indicted May 31.

The penalties for convictions on the charges are as follows:

– Using false documents to be employed: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
– Making a false statement on an I-9: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Misusing a Social Security number: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Making a false claim of resident alien status: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Using false documents with intent to defraud the United States: A maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Possession of false United States documents: A maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory penalty of 2 years in federal prison to run consecutively to any other sentence, and a fine up to $250,000.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting both cases.

In other cases, a federal grand meeting in Wichita issued the following indictments:

Raymond Lee Snargrass, 20, Minneapolis, Minn., and Charles J. Snargrass, III, 31, Minneapolis, Minn., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 53 pounds of marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 24 pounds of cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 15, 2006, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana charge, and a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life, and a fine up to $4 million, on the cocaine charge. The Wichita Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Blair Watson is prosecuting.

James R. Leeper, 61, Anthony, Kan., is charged in a superceding indictment with two counts of unlawful possession of firearms that were not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. In the first count, the firearm is a silencer. In the second count the firearms are destructive devices made from PVC pipe and filled with explosive material. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 7, 2005, in Harper County, Kan.

Leeper first was charged Dec. 9, 2005, by a criminal complaint stating that he had fired shots at juveniles who were legally hunting on property adjacent to his. He was first indicted on Dec. 14, 2005.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10,000 on each of the first two counts. The count involving the firearm with an obliterated serial number carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas State Fire Marshal investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

Edgardo Domingo-Castro, 27, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully transporting illegal aliens for profit within the United States. According to the indictment, he transported 12 undocumented Mexican nationals in Saline County, Kan., by means of a 1996 Chevrolet pickup. The crime is alleged to have occurred June 23, 2006.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Jose F. Ledesma, 22, Wichita, Kan., is charged with unlawfully possessing a sawed-off shotgun. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 3, 2003, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10,000. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

 

John P. Storey, 34, Wichita, is charged with failing to appear for sentencing after pleading guilty to receiving and distributing pornography over the Internet. The crime is alleged to have occurred Feb. 27, 2006 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

The maximum penalty for failure to appear is 10 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $100. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Mario R. Ponds, 26, Wichita, Kan., is charged with four counts of distribution of crack cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times during July, August and September 2004 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

Jose Dimas Cruz-Cruz, 24, who is a citizen of El Salvador, is charged with one count of unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported. He was found in June 12, 2006, in Wichita.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 2 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Juan Carlos Medina-Ontiveros, 30, who is a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found April 3, 2003, in Hutchinson, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Isai Dominguez-Ramirez, 34, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported. He was found June 23 in Wichita.

If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Aucel Vasquez-Martinez, 37, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported. He was found June 23 in Wichita.

If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

As in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

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