Jose De La Cruz-Lopez, a 45-year-old Mexican national, pleaded guilty to charges of identity theft and using false immigration documents in federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina. The plea follows a search and seizure operation at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company in Kings Mountain, where De La Cruz-Lopez had been employed since 2022.
According to court filings, De La Cruz-Lopez used the Social Security number and personal information of another individual who was authorized to work in the United States. He also presented falsified identification documents, including a driver’s license with his photo but bearing the name of the legitimate worker and a copy of that person’s Social Security card. On his I-9 employment eligibility form, he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson commented on the case: “Identity theft is a pervasive problem that can wreak havoc on a victim’s life. We take it very seriously, particularly in cases like this where it undermines our employment laws and the integrity of the hiring process. As this investigation continues, we want to remind employers to exercise vigilance and remain alert for counterfeit documents used to establish a worker’s identity and employment eligibility.”
Two other individuals have entered guilty pleas related to this investigation. Seven additional defendants have been charged federally as part of ongoing inquiries into immigration violations connected with the business:
– Humberto Guzman Lemus, 32, from Mexico, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry after being deported in 2019 following an arrest for driving while impaired.
– Angel Antonio Lara Reyes, 52, from Honduras, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry after deportation in 2014.
– Arurto Albarras Altunar, 40, from Mexico; Geovany Lopez Lopez, 38, from Guatemala; Luiz Antonio Martinez Lopez, 40; Alberto Perez Mendoza, 37; and Enrique Gil Rojano, 52—all face charges related to illegal reentry or prior criminal convictions followed by deportations.
The indictments are allegations at this stage; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
These cases fall under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and related crimes across the country. Since its start in the Western District of North Carolina alone, authorities have charged 44 people with immigration-related offenses.
Multiple agencies contributed to these investigations including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Emergency Removal Operations (ERO), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) including Air and Marine Operations (AMO), IRS Criminal Investigation division (IRS-CI), Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA OIG), North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF), King’s Mountain Police Department (KMPD), Gaston County Sheriff’s Department (GCSD) and Gaston County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick are prosecuting these cases.
