Lake Co. sheriff: Arrest shows 'devastation' of illegal immigrant crime

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said the recent arrest of a Franklin Park man is another example of the havoc wrought by illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

Sergio Uscanga, 26, is charged with identity theft and forgery for using the financial information of a Lake Villa Township man to work for four years.

Curran said Uscanga, who entered this country from Mexico, purchased the name and Social Security number of the 39-year-old victim.

Uscanga used the information to apply for a job at Banner Service Co. in Carpentersville, Curran said, and was hired Sept. 12, 2005.

This past December, Curran said, the victim received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service saying he owed taxes on the wages he had been paid from the job.

The man called police, and Curran said sheriff's detectives tracked down Uscanga and arrested him Sunday morning.

"This case is another example of the devastation criminals who are in this country illegally can cause," Curran said. "This victim will now have to spend months getting his credit straightened out and dealing with an IRS bill he does not owe."

Curran, who has repeatedly called for harsh punishment and expedited deportation of illegal aliens who commit crimes, said it is estimated up to 50 percent of people in this country illegally have stolen identity information.

Uscanga, who is held on $50,000 bond, faces up to five years in prison if convicted and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 2.