News Releases
CZECH REPUBLIC CITIZEN PLEADS GUILTY TO IMMIGRATION FRAUD AND RECEIPT OF STOLEN PROPERTY
March 02, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia; Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Kenneth A. Smith, Special Agent In Charge, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announce that SIMONA VICHERKOVA, 27, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to two counts of a federal indictment on charges of conspiracy to commit immigration document fraud and receipt of a stolen vehicle. According to Nahmias and the documents and information presented in court:
This case is part of an indictment returned on October 19, 2004, which charged VICHERKOVA and DAVID SOLDAN, 29, of Lawrenceville Georgia, MARTIN MERGESS, 28, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and MILOS CUPA, 24, of Naples, Florida with immigration document fraud and transportation of a stolen vehicle. The indictment alleges that the false immigration document was obtained from MIECZYSLAW WYSOCKI in New York City, before January, 2002. WYSOCKI was previously indicted in the Northern District of Georgia for immigration document fraud, and on June 19, 2003, WYSOCKI was sentenced to serve 1 year, 6 months in federal prison to be followed by his deportation.
The present indictment also alleges that the SOLDAN, MERGESS, and CUPA, all Czech nationals, stole a vehicle from a woman in Palm Harbor, Florida, in March, 2001. The vehicle was stolen as part of a home invasion in Palm Harbor after the three males forced their way into the home by posing as FedEx delivery personnel. The vehicle was driven from Florida to Georgia and given to VICHERKOVA.
On Monday, February 28, 2005, in Atlanta DAVID SOLDAN, entered a guilty plea to the indictment based upon his participation in the home invasion, car theft and conspiracy to use false immigration documents.
VICHERKOVA could receive a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for May 17, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. before United States District Judge Willis B. Hunt.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and ICE.
Assistant United States Attorney Barbara E. Nelan is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney or Katherine Monahan, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.