Two Mexican nationals who were in the U.S. illegally have been indicted for allegedly masterminding a fraudulent scheme to produce fake immigration documents, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced Tuesday. Juan Francisco Reyna-Robles, 52, and Eugolio Araus Ocampo, 49, are accused of forging the coveted I-551 stamps, pivotal in a human smuggling operation.
Reyna-Robles is expected to face a judge Wednesday following his indictment on charges that could put him behind bars for up to 15 years. Ocampo, nabbed by authorities before Reyna-Robles, has already appeared in court. Both men allegedly partook in a conspiracy to create and distribute counterfeit I-551 stamps - also known as "ADIT" stamps - a critical piece of identification for immigrants proving their permanent residency status, necessary for employment and travel within the U.S., stated the indictment.
The charges against the duo outline activities dating back to 2022, involving the falsification of official DHS documents. Per the indictment returned last December, if convicted, Reyna-Robles and Ocampo could face significant prison time – up to five years for the immigration document fraud conspiracy, and another ten for human smuggling.
Officials from the DHS-Office of the Inspector General spearheaded the investigation, with a team effort including Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement from Webb County Constable's Office and the Laredo Police Department. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, all hands were on deck to dismantle the operation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Fines that might be levied against the pair could mount to hundreds of thousands of dollars – a substantial penalty in addition to the potential time behind bars. Overseeing the prosecution for this case is Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence A. Check Jr. It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, not proof of guilt, and the accused are deemed innocent until proven otherwise through lawful due process.
