Spartan South Houston Patrol, With The Use Of Fraudulent Social Security Numbers

usdoj.gov, Sep 16, 2005

(HOUSTON, TX) – United States Attorney Michael Shelby announced today the return of federal indictments charging ten commissioned security guards employed by Spartan Security Services, a/k/a, Spartan South Houston Patrol, with the use of fraudulent social security numbers, firearms and/or immigration violations. All ten of the guards, who are allegedly illegally in the United States, were arrested during the early morning hours of Saturday, February 5, 2005, while at their posts. All were initially held in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. With the return of the indictments on Wednesday, February 9, 2005, the ten will be transferred into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further criminal proceedings.

All defendants are expected to make their initial appearance in federal court on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy. The United States will be asking the court to hold each of the defendants in federal custody without bond pending the disposition of their criminal case.

Under Texas law, security guards who carry firearms while on duty are required to be licensed by the state through the Department of Public Safety. The process requires an applicant to provide a social security number. In nine of the ten cases, the United States is alleging the defendant used a fraudulent social security number which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Additionally, under federal law, an illegal alien is prohibited from possessing a firearm, and further prohibited from unlawfully re-entering the United States after deportation.

In announcing today's charges, United States Attorney Shelby said, "The fraudulent use of someone else's social security number or an invalid social security number effectively conceals a person's identity. To obtain the status of a commissioned security guard by these fraudulent means presents an unacceptable security risk to the public.”

All ten defendants are charged in separate indictments. Only one of the 10 defendants is not charged with the fraudulent use of a social security number. That defendant, Oscar O. Sanchez , 43, a Honduran national, is charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm and unlawful re-entry into the United States after deportation. He faces a statutory maximum punishment of ten years imprisonment on each of the two charges upon conviction, and a $500,000 fine on the firearms charge.

Diego De Jesus Ramirez , 25 and Phillipe A. Castillo , 31 of Houston; and Roberto Hernandez-Castillo , 29, Javier Salazar Briseno , 20, and Edgardo Ruiz Ruedas , 44, all Mexican nationals, are each charged with the use of a fraudulent social security number and face a maximum statutory penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The remaining four defendants are charged with the fraudulent use of a social security number and other charges. Ma-Salud Sosa , 26, Victor M. Benitez , 43, and Francisco Nicolas Martinez , 49, all Mexican nationals, are each also charged with being aliens in possession of a firearm. All three men face a statutory maximum punishment of ten years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine, upon conviction for firearms violation. Andres Encina Nunez, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with the social security number violation and unlawful re-entry into the United States after deportation. He faces a statutory maximum punishment of ten years imprisonment upon conviction for unlawful re-entry into the United States.

The investigation resulting in the indictments was conducted jointly by special agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firerarms and Explosives, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and officers of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shelley Hicks.