Mexican Woman Sentenced for Using a Fraudulent Immigration Document

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Maria Pena, age 34, of Mexico, appeared before Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier on April 13, 2012, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged her with using a fraudulent immigration document. Immediately thereafter she was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in custody. She will be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation upon her release from prison.

The investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, revealed that Pena was working at a Sioux Falls business. ICE obtained Pena’s employment file from the business and discovered that she had used a Permanent Resident card in another name when filling out the Form I-9 for employment. The number on the card was not assigned to Pena.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Connie Larson.