Officer Arrested as Suspected Illegal

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Here's a case which demonstrates the importance of thorough background checks.

From JS Online:

A Milwaukee police officer was arrested Wednesday by federal immigration agents on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant who assumed the identity of his dead cousin a decade ago, officials said.

The officer, who has lived and worked under the name Jose A. Morales since he was a teenager, was arrested by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz confirmed Wednesday.

If Morales is found to be an illegal who took his cousin's identity, criminal cases in which he has worked may be subject to valid appeals.

It wasn't disclosed how federal authorities came to investigate Morales but it's logical to suspect that a family member or close friend may have been overheard discussing his illegal status or may have simply spilled the beans. After all, somebody surely knew.

Morales was placed on paid suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.


[Update 06/19/07]

Morales confirmed to be actually Oscar Ayala-Cornejo, an illegal alien. Ayala-Cornejo accepts plea deal with federal prosecutors.