Mexican Citizen Indicted for Possessing Fraudulent Immigration Document

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mexican citizen has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of Fraudulent Immigration Document.

Santos M. Cruz Pastrana, age 38, was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 18, 2011. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 4, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment. The charge is merely an accusation, and Cruz Pastrana is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case. Cruz Pastrana was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A December 20, 2011, trial date has been set.