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Immigrant accused of using fraudulent ID

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, August 14, 2008



Journal Staff Report

PROVIDENCE — One of the 31 custodians arrested last month at state courthouses as suspected illegal immigrants appeared in federal court yesterday to face a charge of using fraudulent identification.

Olga Marina Vasquez-Palma, 29, of Guatemala, is one of four custodians so far to face criminal charges in addition to immigration violations. Vasquez-Palma, who was employed by Tristate Enterprises, worked in the Licht Judicial Complex. She was 1 of 10 workers whom immigration officials released for humanitarian reasons after their arrests.

Yesterday, in her initial and brief appearance in U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge David L. Martin ordered that Vasquez-Palma remain free on bail pending her next court appearance. Martin noted that Vasquez-Palma had voluntarily reported for a probation meeting and for yesterday’s appearance.

Her lawyer, Mary McElroy, said she did not know when Vasquez-Palma would be back in court.

Thomas Connell, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente, said he did not know if any more of the custodians would face criminal charges.

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