Washingtontimes.com
Federal agents have arrested a fourth employee of the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, in connection with a wide-ranging conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Miguel Partida, 41, a visa adjudicator and naturalized U.S. citizen, was taken into custody Wednesday by State Department Diplomatic Security Service agents after being named on a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Laredo, Texas.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Adriana Arce-Flores set bond for Mr. Partida at $150,000. A preliminary hearing is set for Monday.
Mr. Partida is believed by authorities to have collected nearly $30,000 in the scheme, which involved three other consulate employees already in custody. Mr. Partida reportedly told investigators he was coerced by the three others.
Last week, Diplomatic Security Service agents arrested three Mexican citizens employed at the consulate on similar visa-conspiracy charges. Sergio Genaro Ochoa-Alarcon, 31; Benjamin Antonio Ayala-Morales, 34; and Ramon Alberto Torres-Galvan, 34, are in federal custody pending indictments in the ongoing investigation.
Posted by Suzanne at February 7, 2003