United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

M01-204 S. Main Street

South Bend, IN 46601

Hammond                                                 South Bend                                               Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton June 1, 2011                                                                                       PHONE: (219) 937-5603 www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/                                                                   Fax: (219) 852-2770THREE ARRESTED IN ILLEGAL ALIEN INVESTIGATIONSouth Bend, Indiana—United States Attorney David Capp announced today that federal agents have arrested three individuals in conjunction with an investigation of harboring illegal aliens. The three arrested are:

            •          Ramon Garcia, age 38, of South Bend, Indiana;

            •          Paulino Ascencion-Apolino, age 22, of Elkhart, Indiana;

            •          Rafael Ibarra-Diaz, age 38, of South Bend, Indiana.

            Garcia and Ascencion-Apolino have been charged with mail fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 and 1349, and conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324. Ibarra-Diaz has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after being deported in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). The initial hearings have been set for Thursday, June 2, 2011, at 3:00 PM in the Robert Grant Federal Courthouse, 204 South Main Street, South Bend, Indiana.

            Additionally, today federal agents served three search warrants in conjunction with the investigation at three Northern Indiana businesses: (1) Servicios Mi Tierra, located on W. Western Ave., South Bend, Indiana; (2) Servicios Mi Tierra, located on U.S. 33, Elkhart, Indiana; and (3) Agencia Latina, located in Highland, Indiana.

            The investigation is being led by agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago in conjunction with the United States Postal Service, Indiana State Police, Elkhart Police Department, and South Bend Police Department. Investigators with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles also assisted in the investigation which is ongoing.

This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth Hays.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that a Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.  

The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.