United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Santos Cruz Pastrana, age 38, residing in Alpena, South Dakota, appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on December 7, 2011, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with Possession of Fraudulent Immigration Documents. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Santos Cruz Pastrana provided his employer with a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card and Employment Authorization Card in September 2009. Prior to 2006, Cruz Pastrana had been issued an Employment Authorization Card. However, in 2006 his application was denied. Therefore, Cruz Pastrana did not have a valid Employment Authorization Card during that time. The Permanent Resident Card was also fraudulent in that he had never been issued one.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Miller.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for January 3, 2012. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
|
