Federal Indictment Accuses Employees of 'Kaweah Indian Nation' of Selling
Memberships to Illegal Aliens
WICHITA, Kansas, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eleven people who
worked for the so-called Kaweah Indian Nation are charged in an indictment
with taking part in a fraudulent scheme to obtain citizenship for illegal
and legal immigrants by having them claim to be Native Americans.
Charged are the indictment are: Kaweah Indian Nation, LLC, a limited
liability corporation registered in Kansas; Malcolm L. Webber, 69, Bel
Aire, Kan.; Debra J. Flynn, 49, Wichita, Kan.; Chuck Flynn, 52, Wichita,
Kan.; Raynal N. Williams, 19, Bel Aire, Kan.; Jorge Villareal, a citizen of
Mexico; Eduviges Del Carmen-Zamora, 44, Wichita, Kan.; Angel O. Zamora, 39,
a citizen of Guatemala; Britton A. Bergman, 35, Wichita, Kan.; Hector
Nolasco Pena, 50, a citizen of Honduras; Victor W. Orvellana, a citizen of
Mexico; Jaime Cervantes, 45, a citizen of Mexico.
"The indictment states that Malcolm Webber hired others to help him
sell memberships in what he called the Kaweah Indian Nation," said U.S.
Attorney Eric Melgren. "It is alleged Mr. Webber and his employees told
Hispanic pastors and Spanish speaking customers that unlawful aliens could
acquire U.S. citizenship by purchasing membership. In fact, of course,
citizenship cannot be obtained in that manner."
"There are no shortcuts to gaining U.S. citizenship," said Sheila
O'Neill, assistant special agent in charge of the ICE Office of
Investigations in Kansas City, Mo. "Naturalization is the only way for
non-citizens to become U.S. citizens. ICE will investigate and pursue
prosecution of anyone who tries to defraud the U.S. government with schemes
of instant citizenship by obtaining membership to any organization."
O'Neill oversees the states of Kansas and Missouri.
"The Social Security Office of Inspector General is pleased to have
taken part in this investigation, which addresses a threat to the integrity
of Social Security numbers," said Jon Guilford, resident agent in charge,
Social Security Office of Inspector General. "We will continue to work with
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies to accomplish our
mission."
The 17-count indictment includes four counts of harboring illegal
aliens; three counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States; two counts
of unlawfully transporting illegal aliens in the United States; one count
of mail fraud; one count of producing false documents; two counts of making
false claims of U.S. citizenship; two counts of making a false written
statement to the U.S. government; one count of possessing a false document
with intent to defraud the U.S. government; and one count seeking
forfeiture of any proceeds from the crimes.
According to the indictment, Webber, who called himself Grand Chief
Thunderbird IV, created an organization in Kansas called "Kaweah Indian
Nation, LLC." He solicited and employed others to sell memberships in KIN
for his commercial gain. Webber and his representatives told Hispanic
pastors and potential buyers that membership would allow foreign nationals
to obtain official documents from the U.S. government reflecting that they
are U.S. citizens.
On June 22, 2007, Ediviges Del Carmen Zamora guided 20 aliens from
California to Wichita to attempt to obtain Social Security cards by
declaring they were Native Americans. On the same day, Hector Nolapsco Pena
transported aliens from Oklahoma to Wichita for the same purpose.
As part of a fraudulent scheme, Webber and others obtained money and
distributed documents through the U.S. Postal Service to known and unknown
conspirators located throughout the United States.
The charge of harboring an alien, Melgren explained, refers to unlawful
acts encouraging an alien to enter or reside illegally in the United
States.
Webber first was charged by criminal complaint Sept. 7, 2007. At the
time, Melgren said reports were coming in from Social Security offices,
drivers license bureaus and law enforcement agencies in Kansas, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Michigan, California and other states that
foreign nationals were showing up with documents purchased from Webber.
They were offering the documents as proof they were U.S. citizens when they
sought driver's licenses, Social Security cards and other forms of
identification to which they claimed they were entitled.
Thousands of completed applications with photographs and many with
money orders ranging in amounts from $50 to $500 were seized from Mr.
Webber's office in Wichita when agents search a search warrant.
According to Bureau of Indian Affairs' records, the agency in 1984
denied a request by Webber for federal recognition of his Kaweah Indian
Nation organization. The letter of denial stated that Webber was a
"non-Indian" and that his organization had "no characteristics of an Indian
Tribe which has maintained tribal relations from historical times.
Upon conviction, the alleged crimes carry the following penalties:
conspiracy to defraud the United States: a maximum penalty of five years in
federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000 on each count;
harboring illegal aliens: a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison
without parole and a fine up to $250,000 on each count; possessing false
identification documents: a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison
without parole and a fine up to $250,000 on each count; mail fraud: A
maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up
to $250,000; producing false documents: a maximum penalty of 15 years in
federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement; Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector
General; Wichita Police Department; Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S.
Department of State; Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Inspector General;
and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
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SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
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Related links:
http://www.USDOJ.gov
CONTACT:
Jim Cross of the Office of United States
Attorney Eric Melgren, District of Kansas, +1-316-269-6481
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