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In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors.
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Four indicted in alleged SoCal Social Security scam
Thursday July 24, 2003
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A federal grand jury indicted four
people Wednesday for allegedly selling hundreds of fraudulently
obtained Social Security cards to illegal immigrants.
Heladio Serrano, 21, of Rialto; and Orlando Pascual Popper, 37;
Marisol Esmeralda Rosa, 38; and Dimas Rosa, 38, all of Moreno
Valley, were charged with using false birth certificates and other
documents to apply for Social Security cards for newborn children.
Those involved claimed the babies were born in California, but
authorities say the children were either not born in the state or
were simply imaginary.
The four named in the indictment were arrested July 10 at homes
in Los Angeles, Rialto and Moreno Valley. They allegedly received
birth certificates and fraudulent cards through the mail, then sold
the documents for about $3,500.
Each faces up to 30 years in federal prison and fines of up to
$1.5 million.
Calls to the U.S. Attorney's office regarding bail, a hearing
date and legal representation for the defendants were not
immediately returned.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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