Federal law enforcement agencies arrested 13 illegal immigrants in the Paducah area, with eight being indicted for falsely using social security numbers during their employment verification.
According to the indictments, between June 23, 2021, and August 15, 2025, in McCracken County, eight people completed USCIS I-9 forms to apply for and receive compensation for employment, knowing that the Social Security account numbers used on the forms were not assigned to them.
The following eight were charged by indictment for using a false social security number:
Daniel Martinez Cruz, 22, a citizen of Mexico
Manuel Martinez Garcia, 32, a citizen of Mexico
Joel Gomez, 36, a citizen of Guatemala
Juan Pastor Gonzalez, 36, a citizen of Guatemala
Julio Venture Hernandez, 29, a citizen of Mexico
Marcelina Juarez-Vicente, 33, a citizen of Guatemala
Ricardo Lopez, 23, a citizen of Guatemala
Ana Osorio Louzado, 23, a citizen of Spain
Those who were not charged criminally will be held in ICE custody, pending removal proceedings and potential deportation.
On May 22, the eight indicted defendants made initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of not more than five years in prison, per the release.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Source: WBKO
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