Task Force Expands and Continues to Nab Undocumented Workers

Numerous Arrests at Two Locations

On February 03, 2008, a special Task Force assembled by Sheriff Wendell Hall launched an operation to help curb the issue of undocumented workers in Santa Rosa County.  This effort has continued to operate on a daily basis, acting on citizen generated complaints regarding possible undocumented workers. The existing AIM Task Force (Area Impact Management), comprised of 7 multi-lingual Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office deputies, has joined forces with Walton County Sheriff Ralph Johnson, Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris, and Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby to form a four county Task Force in order to curb the problem of undocumented workers in the Florida Panhandle.

This combined effort will continue to operate indefinitely. On today's date, members of the joint task force conducted two business checks at two La Hacienda Restaurants in Santa Rosa County.  One of the locations was located on Caroline Street in Milton, and the other was located on Highway 90 in Pace.  Citizen complaints had been received by the Task Force involving the presence of undocumented workers that were working at both locations. 

A check of records conducted with the business owner, who operates both locations, did reveal that numerous suspected undocumented workers had produced fraudulent social security cards in order to gain employment at the establishments.  As a result of the records check, the following individuals were found to be in the United States illegally and were arrested and charged with Using False Documents to Obtain Employment (3rd degree felony):

THESE NAMES AND ADDRESSES ARE THE NAMES THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE FRAUDULENT FORMS PROVIDED TO THE EMPLOYER

1. Marcos Vargas, H/M, 4/05/58, 512 Holcombe Road, Milton, FL
2. Ramon Sandoval, H/M, 9/03/83, 6223 Mohawk Trail, Milton, FL
3. Erick Barragan, H/M, 8/24/86, 5193 Hilltop Drive, Milton, FL
4. Ramon Lopez, H/M, 5/07/86, 5171 Hilltop Drive, Milton, FL
5. Rolman Garcia, H/M, 3/14/84, Emerald Sands Inn, Hwy. 90, Milton, FL
6. Eduardo Rodriguez, H/M, 4/21/83, 4581 Davenport Lane Lot 24, Pace, FL
7. Ramon Ramirez, H/M, 1/23/77, 4581 Davenport Lane Lot 24, Pace, FL
8. Emmanuel Hernandez-Paz, H/M, 1/10/86, 4581 Davenport Lane Lot 6, Pace, FL
9. Miguel Sanchez, H/M, 7/03/82, 5688 Reginas Way, Milton, FL
10. Ruben Barragan, H/M, 6/21/83, 8011 Sabra Drive, Pensacola, FL

They are all being held at the Santa Rosa County Jail with no bond. The Sheriff's Office will request that a hold be placed on all of these individuals with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A large amount of information was gathered during interviews with the arrested subjects.  It was found that the subjects had entered the United States illegally, paying unknown suspects between $1700.00 and $5000.00 for assistance in entering the country.  They also stated that they paid anywhere from $50.00 to $200.00 to obtain false social security cards once inside the United States. 

The records check also revealed that the social security numbers that were being used by these individuals were all being used fraudulently, belonging to individuals such as small children, deceased adults, and U.S. citizens that are currently living in places such as Beirut, Lebanon and Mogadishu, Somalia.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office will make every effort to contact the individuals whose social security numbers are being used fraudulently by these undocumented workers. 

All of the information that was gathered relating to the owner of the business and the undocumented workers is being forwarded to State and Federal authorities for further investigation.

The four county Task Force encourages the public to contact the Sheriff's Office with any complaints involving activity surrounding issues involving possible undocumented workers in Santa Rosa County.