2 Women Arrested in Alleged Fleecing of Illegal Aliens

Two employees of an immigration-assistance business were arrested by police this week and accused of trying to trick an undercover agent posing as an illegal immigrant into paying $550 for a work registration service that actually costs only $10, authorities said Friday.

Investigators for the Orange County district attorney and Santa Ana police made the arrests Thursday and seized business files on 160 illegal immigrant clients whom they suspect may have been bilked by the firm.

Ali B. Vasquez, 60, and Adriana C. Iniquez, 20, both of Santa Ana, were arrested at the Immigration Depot, a business in the 1200 block of 1st Street, and each charged with three criminal misdemeanor counts of violating the state Business and Professional Code.

Authorities alleged Friday that the women failed to provide a written contract to the detective who was posing as an immigrant, made false or misleading statements to him and claimed that their company could obtain special favors from the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Vasquez, who managed the business, is the wife of Depot owner Ed Cervantes, investigators said. Iniquez worked for the business as a clerk. Cervantes was not in the office when the arrests were made. Neither he nor the two women could be reached for comment Friday.

The women were released on their own recognizance and are scheduled to appear in Orange County Superior Court on Dec. 19.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jerry Johnston said investigators decided to conduct the undercover operation after receiving complaints about the Depot from the Orange County Immigration Fraud Task Force, a community watchdog agency.

“In this case,” Johnston said, “the undocumented aliens are the perfect victims. They don’t really understand how the system works. They are terrified about complaining to the authorities and it’s difficult for them to find the answers for themselves. They were the perfect prey.”

Task force member Robin Blackwell said the group had received at least five complaints from undocumented workers who had paid some money to the business but were dissatisfied with the service. The immigrants were required to make a $150 deposit and the remainder was to be paid in installments, she said.

Blackwell said task force officials hope that the business will now make restitution to “these innocent victims.”