⏱ 2 min read
Oscar Ruiz-Oliva and Jorge Manuel Oliva-Paguada, two Honduran immigrants, were indicted in St. Louis for hiring at least 10 illegal aliens. The indictment, handed down on Wednesday, accuses the pair of knowingly and intentionally engaging in a pattern of hiring unauthorized aliens. Ruiz-Oliva, 41, and Oliva-Paguada, 37, were also charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after being deported. Ruiz-Oliva was deported in 2009 near Phoenix, while Oliva-Paguada was deported in 2013 near Houston.
The investigation, part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, alleges that Ruiz-Oliva employed at least 25 illegal aliens. Oliva-Paguada also faces a charge of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, specifically a .40-caliber pistol. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership aimed at eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ware and Kyle Bateman. The indictment is part of a larger effort by the HSTF to identify, investigate, and prosecute crimes committed by transnational criminal organizations. The HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.
The outcome of the case will depend on the prosecution’s ability to prove the charges against Ruiz-Oliva and Oliva-Paguada. The indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking in the United States.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Organized Crime
- Defendant: Missouri
- Location: MO
- Source: DOJ Press Release
