Iowa City Man Sentenced On Federal Immigration Charges
DAVENPORT- On April 8, 2008, Raul Barrientos-Perez, also known as Jose Ramon Villesca, age 25, formerly of Iowa City, Iowa, but a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to a term of 34 months imprisonment for false use of an immigration document, misuse of a social security number, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker.
In June 2007, ICE agents received information that Barrientos-Perez was residing in Iowa City and had contact with the state criminal justice system under a false identity. They further received information that Barrientos-Perez possessed an Iowa Identification Card and a false Social Security Card under this false name. As part of this investigation, ICE received information from the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration which confirmed that the social security number used by Barrientos-Perez belonged to a real person. Additionally, social security records showed that a replacement card was issued in 2005 in Iowa City.
Additionally, ICE agents received information from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) that a subject using the same social security number applied for and obtained several Iowa Identification Cards. Beginning on October 9, 2001, this social security number was used in conjunction with an out-of-state birth certificate for issuance of an Iowa ID in the false name. Iowa DOT further provided information that from October 2001, to August 2006, a total of (6) six Iowa IDs had been issued under this same name and with photos that all appeared to be the same person.
Using this same social security number, ICE agents obtained employment information from a state agency. Based on the employers listed as paying wages to an employee using this social security number, ICE agents obtained several I-9 forms from these employers. Proper employment eligibility verification established by use of this I-9 form is a requirement of the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
On or about January 7, 2005, an I-9 form was filled out under a false identity by an individual later identified as Barrientos-Perez. According to this form, the employee claimed to be a citizen or national of the United States and presented as proof of this status an Iowa Identification Card and Social Security Card containing the same information as provided on the Form I-9. A second I-9 form was filled out using the same false identity to a business in the Iowa City area on August 8, 2006.
On July 31, 2007, ICE agents administratively took Barrientos-Perez into custody at the State Probation Office in Coralville, Iowa. After taking Barrientos-Perez into custody, ICE Agents accompanied a Johnson County Probation Officer to the claimed residence of Barrientos- Perez in Iowa City. At this residence, Barrientos-Perez provided probation and ICE agents with information regarding the location of his identification documents inside of the apartment.
On July 31, 2007, Barrientos-Perez was given his Miranda rights in the Spanish language. Barrientos-Perez stated that he understood his rights and was willing to speak with ICE Agents without an attorney present. During the post-Miranda interview, Barrientos-Perez told ICE agents that he was an undocumented alien from Mexico and that he had been using the identity of a United States citizen to gain employment in the United States for the past five or six years. Barrientos-Perez stated he had purchased a out-of-state birth certificate and Social Security Card in Chicago for $1200.00.
This case was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. This investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Iowa Sixth Judicial Department of Correctional Services.