Photo: PGR
Leija-Sanchez brothers allegedly engaged in fraud, contract murder, racketeering and alien smuggling
July 15, 2010
Chicago, IL (HNNUSA)- The United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Illinois announced that Manuel Leija-Sanchez, 43, was arraigned Monday in U.S District Court on eight counts, including racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to commit murder outside the United States, money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, and alien smuggling. He pleaded not guilty and remains in federal custody without bond. A status hearing was scheduled for Aug. 26 before U.S District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer.
Leija-Sanchez was arrested in Mexico in October 2007 and remained in custody in Mexico until Mexican authorities surrendered him to U.S. law enforcement agents last Friday.
The charges are part of Operation Paper Tiger, an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that, in April 2007 resulted in charges against 24 defendants and dismantled an alleged fraudulent document ring that operated in and around the Little Village Discount Mall and generated nearly $3 million in annual profits.
Manuel Leija-Sanchez allegedly operated the bustling fraudulent document business since 1993 with his brothers, Julio Leija-Sanchez and Pedro Leija Sanchez. The Mexico-based Leija-Sanchez organization was supervised by an overall leader living in Chicago, and the leadership position rotated among the three Leija-Sanchez brothers, according to an October 2007 indictment. The leader in Chicago and others allegedly ordered violent acts against competitors, rivals and others. The indictment alleged that the organization sold as many as 50 to 100 sets of fraudulent identification documents each day, charging customers approximately $200 to $300 cash per “set,” consisting of a Social Security card and either an Immigration “green card” or a state driver’s license.
Manuel Leija-Sanchez and his brothers allegedly conspired to murder Guillermo Jimenez-Flores, a former member of their organization who became a fledgling rival and was allegedly shot to death in Mexico in April 2007 by co-defendant Gerardo Salazar-Rodriguez, who was paid by and conspired with the three Leija-Sanchez brothers. The same four defendants also allegedly conspired about the same time to kill a second victim in Mexico.
Pedro Leija-Sanchez and Salazar-Rodriguez are both in custody in Mexico while Julio Leija-Sanchez was arrested in Chicago and remains in custody while awaiting trial.
Joining ICE in the federal investigation were the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago offices of the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Justice Department praised the significant assistance provided by the Government of Mexico and Mexican law enforcement partners.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Nasser, Andrew Porter and William Ridgway.
If convicted of the most serious charges against him, Manuel Leija-Sanchez faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Northern District of Illinois.
United States v. Julio Leija-Sanchez, et al. (April 2007)
Suspects charged:
JULIO LEIJA-SANCHEZ, also known as "Rogelio Garcia-Salazar," "Adrian Perez-Benitez," "Cesar Juarez," "Savino Zapiel," "Rogelio Garcia," "Carlos Becerra Velasquez," "Larry," and "Salivas;" 31, of Oak Lawn; arrested in Chicago;
MIGUEL CEPEDA, aka "Muta," "Cesar Ortiz," and "El Monstro;" 26,of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
JOSE CORTEZ-PEREZ, aka "Bigotes," "Bigos," "Aramon Montero-Cortel," "Roberto Castro," "Ramon Gomez," "Alberto Gomez-Ramirez," "Spider," and "Tarantula;" 42, of Cicero; fugitive;
ARMANDO DAVILA, aka "Bikini" and "Tanque;" 26, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
ANGEL MARTIN DORANTES-VASQUEZ, aka "Angel Dorantes," “Martin," "Botas," and "Vaquero;" 35,of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
RAUL GONZALEZ-MARQUEZ, aka "Raul Marquez-Gonzalez," "Raul Marquez,"; "Raul Gonzalez," "Rauline," "Raulin," and "Rulas;" 58, of Wood Dale, believed to be in Mexico;
RICARDO GONZALEZ-MARQUEZ, aka "Rico," "Ricos," and "Chino;" 54, of Wood Dale; arrested in Chicago;
JULIO CESAR HERNANDEZ-LOPEZ, aka "Pabo," "Pablo Hernandez," and "Pavo;" 36, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
MANUEL LEIJA-SANCHEZ, aka "Reglas," "Manuel Sanchez-Leija," "Vincente Vince," "Aguilar," "Ricardo Leiba," "Marcos a/k/a "Miguelito," "Moco," and "Enrique Felix;" 40, of Mexico City; believed to be in Mexico;
ANTONIO MARQUEZ, aka "Topo," "Tomatillo," and "Topoillo;" 35, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
ELIAS MARQUEZ, aka "Tio" and "Don;" 51, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
EDUARDO MOLINA-VASQUEZ, aka "Caracol," "Arturo Vasquez-Laguna," "David Ramirez-Montez," "Edwardo Molina," "Arturo Salizar" and "Rott;" 32,of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
OSCAR MONTIEL-GERRIDO, aka "Rambo," and "Rambito;" 29, of Chicago; fugitive;
RAFAEL MORALES, aka "Mollejas;" 36, of Chicago; fugitive;
ALFREDO MUNIZ, aka "Chuy," "Lobos," and "Chucas;" 30, of Chicago; fugitive;
LUIS PEREZ, aka "Ronas;" 23,of Chicago; fugitive; OSCAR PERIGRINO, aka "Primate," and "Juan Carlos Sandoval-Hernandez;" 34, of Chicago; fugitive;
RICARDO QUINTERO-LOPEZ, aka "Porki," "El Chato," "Chicharon," "Ramon Cisneros," and "Cochino;" 33,of Cicero; arrested in Chicago;
GERARDO SALAZAR-RODRIGUEZ, aka "Larossa," "Chapulin," and "Labrosa;" 34, of Mexico City; believed to be in Mexico;
CATHY LNU, aka Caterina Zapien-Ruiz, 28, of Oak Lawn; arrested in Chicago; FNU/LNU, aka "CHATO," age unknown, of Mexico City, believed to be in Mexico;
Claudio LNU, aka "CHISPA," "Dingo," and Claudio Carrillo-Fuentes, 38, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago.
ICE press release naming all suspects on April 25, 2007
U.S. charges 22 in alleged fraudulent identification ring based in Chicago, Cell leader allegedly ordered murders of competitors in Mexico: http://bit.ly/9KhbWU
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
Leija-Sanchez brothers allegedly engaged in fraud, contract murder, racketeering and alien smuggling
July 15, 2010
Chicago, IL (HNNUSA)- The United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Illinois announced that Manuel Leija-Sanchez, 43, was arraigned Monday in U.S District Court on eight counts, including racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to commit murder outside the United States, money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, and alien smuggling. He pleaded not guilty and remains in federal custody without bond. A status hearing was scheduled for Aug. 26 before U.S District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer.
Leija-Sanchez was arrested in Mexico in October 2007 and remained in custody in Mexico until Mexican authorities surrendered him to U.S. law enforcement agents last Friday.
The charges are part of Operation Paper Tiger, an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that, in April 2007 resulted in charges against 24 defendants and dismantled an alleged fraudulent document ring that operated in and around the Little Village Discount Mall and generated nearly $3 million in annual profits.
Manuel Leija-Sanchez allegedly operated the bustling fraudulent document business since 1993 with his brothers, Julio Leija-Sanchez and Pedro Leija Sanchez. The Mexico-based Leija-Sanchez organization was supervised by an overall leader living in Chicago, and the leadership position rotated among the three Leija-Sanchez brothers, according to an October 2007 indictment. The leader in Chicago and others allegedly ordered violent acts against competitors, rivals and others. The indictment alleged that the organization sold as many as 50 to 100 sets of fraudulent identification documents each day, charging customers approximately $200 to $300 cash per “set,” consisting of a Social Security card and either an Immigration “green card” or a state driver’s license.
Manuel Leija-Sanchez and his brothers allegedly conspired to murder Guillermo Jimenez-Flores, a former member of their organization who became a fledgling rival and was allegedly shot to death in Mexico in April 2007 by co-defendant Gerardo Salazar-Rodriguez, who was paid by and conspired with the three Leija-Sanchez brothers. The same four defendants also allegedly conspired about the same time to kill a second victim in Mexico.
Pedro Leija-Sanchez and Salazar-Rodriguez are both in custody in Mexico while Julio Leija-Sanchez was arrested in Chicago and remains in custody while awaiting trial.
Joining ICE in the federal investigation were the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago offices of the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Justice Department praised the significant assistance provided by the Government of Mexico and Mexican law enforcement partners.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Nasser, Andrew Porter and William Ridgway.
If convicted of the most serious charges against him, Manuel Leija-Sanchez faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Northern District of Illinois.
United States v. Julio Leija-Sanchez, et al. (April 2007)
Suspects charged:
JULIO LEIJA-SANCHEZ, also known as "Rogelio Garcia-Salazar," "Adrian Perez-Benitez," "Cesar Juarez," "Savino Zapiel," "Rogelio Garcia," "Carlos Becerra Velasquez," "Larry," and "Salivas;" 31, of Oak Lawn; arrested in Chicago;
MIGUEL CEPEDA, aka "Muta," "Cesar Ortiz," and "El Monstro;" 26,of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
JOSE CORTEZ-PEREZ, aka "Bigotes," "Bigos," "Aramon Montero-Cortel," "Roberto Castro," "Ramon Gomez," "Alberto Gomez-Ramirez," "Spider," and "Tarantula;" 42, of Cicero; fugitive;
ARMANDO DAVILA, aka "Bikini" and "Tanque;" 26, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
ANGEL MARTIN DORANTES-VASQUEZ, aka "Angel Dorantes," “Martin," "Botas," and "Vaquero;" 35,of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
RAUL GONZALEZ-MARQUEZ, aka "Raul Marquez-Gonzalez," "Raul Marquez,"; "Raul Gonzalez," "Rauline," "Raulin," and "Rulas;" 58, of Wood Dale, believed to be in Mexico;
RICARDO GONZALEZ-MARQUEZ, aka "Rico," "Ricos," and "Chino;" 54, of Wood Dale; arrested in Chicago;
JULIO CESAR HERNANDEZ-LOPEZ, aka "Pabo," "Pablo Hernandez," and "Pavo;" 36, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
MANUEL LEIJA-SANCHEZ, aka "Reglas," "Manuel Sanchez-Leija," "Vincente Vince," "Aguilar," "Ricardo Leiba," "Marcos a/k/a "Miguelito," "Moco," and "Enrique Felix;" 40, of Mexico City; believed to be in Mexico;
ANTONIO MARQUEZ, aka "Topo," "Tomatillo," and "Topoillo;" 35, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
ELIAS MARQUEZ, aka "Tio" and "Don;" 51, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
EDUARDO MOLINA-VASQUEZ, aka "Caracol," "Arturo Vasquez-Laguna," "David Ramirez-Montez," "Edwardo Molina," "Arturo Salizar" and "Rott;" 32,of Chicago; arrested in Chicago;
OSCAR MONTIEL-GERRIDO, aka "Rambo," and "Rambito;" 29, of Chicago; fugitive;
RAFAEL MORALES, aka "Mollejas;" 36, of Chicago; fugitive;
ALFREDO MUNIZ, aka "Chuy," "Lobos," and "Chucas;" 30, of Chicago; fugitive;
LUIS PEREZ, aka "Ronas;" 23,of Chicago; fugitive; OSCAR PERIGRINO, aka "Primate," and "Juan Carlos Sandoval-Hernandez;" 34, of Chicago; fugitive;
RICARDO QUINTERO-LOPEZ, aka "Porki," "El Chato," "Chicharon," "Ramon Cisneros," and "Cochino;" 33,of Cicero; arrested in Chicago;
GERARDO SALAZAR-RODRIGUEZ, aka "Larossa," "Chapulin," and "Labrosa;" 34, of Mexico City; believed to be in Mexico;
CATHY LNU, aka Caterina Zapien-Ruiz, 28, of Oak Lawn; arrested in Chicago; FNU/LNU, aka "CHATO," age unknown, of Mexico City, believed to be in Mexico;
Claudio LNU, aka "CHISPA," "Dingo," and Claudio Carrillo-Fuentes, 38, of Chicago; arrested in Chicago.
ICE press release naming all suspects on April 25, 2007
U.S. charges 22 in alleged fraudulent identification ring based in Chicago, Cell leader allegedly ordered murders of competitors in Mexico: http://bit.ly/9KhbWU
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
No comments:
Post a Comment