Identity Theft Investigation Leads to Raid at Sanitation Business

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. - Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputies raided a sanitation company in the northwest valley Friday morning near Grand and Thunderbird.

Search warrants were served after a 6-month investigation based on anonymous tips from Parks & Sons employees.

There were allegations that employees of the sanitation company's locations in El Mirage and Youngtown were in the country illegally and used fake IDs to get hired.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says 7 people have been taken into custody. Six were arrested for identity theft and forgery, and one had an outstanding warrant.

Critics were outside of the Parks & Son location Friday morning and one woman talked to FOX 10.

"They're coming here to arrest people that are here working.. how come he doesn't go to the border and or to somewhere to arrest criminals? People that are on the streets. I have six kids! So what's gonna happen now?" said Maria Ruiz, the wife of a Parks & Sons employee who was taken in by deputies.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says, "This is our job. We put resources in every type of crime. For all those critics out there.. that we're only lockin' up gardeners and so on, what about the false identification? Nobody talks about that."

When deputies arrived at the scene, Arpaio said people were trying to run away or hide. 

40 people were checked for their immigration status and whether they used false identification and Social Security numbers.

Teresa Flores, a relative of a legal worker at Parks & Son, said, "I think what they're doing is really rude. Getting anybody just so they can you know send them back to Mexico. They're just trying to make a living."

Parks & Sons statement:

"On Friday, June 25, 2010, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office visited our Company's premises.  MCSO is conducting an investigation seeking those who provided false documentation to the Company for employment.  Parks & Sons is a family-owned business that has been locally operated since 1964.  Our company has a solid history of complying with the law and we will fully cooperate with the Sheriff's Office in this investigation.  We are anxious to see this case proceed as the investigation continues."

Parks & Sons - www.parksandsons.com

More Talkers You Should See:

• Mexican Man Deported 5 Times, Sentenced to 7 Years
• SPIN METER: Defining 'Border Security'
• Immigrant Families Leave Arizona & Tough New Law
• At Least $800M Spent for 53-mile Border Fence