The Roanoke Times
Roanoke, Virginia -- Hector Cruz-Hernandez stood before a federal judge Wednesday, faced with explaining his role in a check fraud scheme.
"I have needs," he said through a translator. "I have children."
Cruz-Hernandez is one of 11 Mexican nationals who have pleaded guilty in Roanoke for their roles in a national crime cell that struck Cloverdale, Harrisonburg, Danville and Staunton in 2004 and 2005.
Prosecutors say banks in those areas lost tens of thousands of dollars to the group, which U.S. Attorney John Brownlee has called "one cell of a major Mexican organization" that is believed to have bilked U.S. banks out of $50 million over several years.
Just doing the stealing that Americans don't want to do
Posted by Richard at March 23, 2006