Feds: Men admit forging citizenship papers

Thirteen of the 16 men arrested earlier this month for being in the U.S. illegally and working at a Nampa-area wood framing business have admitted to forging citizenship documents, federal officials say.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say all 16 men formerly employed by Idaho Truss are from Mexico. ICE has accused them with multiple federal crimes, including possession of counterfeit alien registration receipt cards, misuse of Social Security numbers, and illegal entry or re-entry after deportation.

The raid at Idaho Truss occurred Dec. 4, and all 16 men were taken into custody that day. They were later indicted by a federal grand jury. ICE officials say 13 of those men have already entered guilty pleas.

Idaho Truss & Component Co. President Kendall Hoyd said earlier this month he was shocked to learn that 16 of his employees were suspected of working illegally. The Idaho Community Action Network and Catholic Charities of Idaho have denounced the raid, saying it likely was tearing families apart.

According to ICE reports, the Dec. 4 raid was part of a yearlong investigation that began with a review of the employment records of workers building military housing at the Mountain Home Air Force Base.

Investigators say they have evidence the workers may have used fake Social Security numbers and other counterfeit identification like fraudulent green cards to get their jobs, ICE spokeswoman Lorie Dankers said.

Those ICE says those who have pleaded guilty are: Rafael Castillo-Tellez, 28; Antonio M. Garcia-Gomez, 32; Hilario Leyva-Guzman, 31; Juan Sergio Juarez-Contreras, 25; Juan Vidal Lopez-Zaragosa, 36; Juan Martinez-Gonzalez, 39; Juan Manuel Miramontes-Garcia, 25; Rafael Quezada Bejar, 30; Humberto Quinteros, 24; Hubaldo Gorgonio Rojas, 22; Rodrigo Salinas-Cervantes, 33; Julio Vargas-Ortiz, 27; and Santos Lopez-Serratos, 36.

The three other men arrested - Miguel Zamora-Urena, 40; Juan Manuel Diaz-Juarez, 36; and Gregorio Villareal Ruiz, 36 - are scheduled to begin a jury trial Feb. 10.

Patrick Orr: 373-6619