Las Vegas, Nev. – The Federal Grand Jury has indicted a Henderson women and two other women from Naples, Florida, on charges that they participated in a scheme to falsify United States immigration and labor forms in order to induce illegal aliens to unlawfully enter and reside in the United States, announced Steven W. Myhre, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Kathy Nelson, aka Kathleen Cruz, aka Kathy Debelloitte, aka Kathleen Lesinski, 42, is charged with seven counts of False Application, three counts of False Statement, two counts of Mail Fraud, five counts of Wire Fraud, two counts of Inducing Alien to Come to, Enter, and Reside in United States in Violation of Law; and one count of Conspiracy to Harbor Illegal Aliens. Also charged in the Conspiracy are Gena Ramaekers, 55, and Dezrine Jones, 40, both of Naples, Florida

According to the Indictment, Nelson allegedly made false statements in forms used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and United States Department of Labor that over 400 illegal aliens would be working for Gulf Coast Resort Management in Crested Butte, Colorado, when she well knew that the aliens would not be working in Crested Butte, Colorado. Subsequently, Nelson induced aliens, who believed they were lawfully entering the United States to perform seasonal, nonagricultural work, to unlawfully enter and illegally remain in the United States for the purposes of Nelson's own commercial advantage and private financial gain. The Indictment further alleges that the defendants conspired to harbor at least four illegal aliens in the United States.

Nelson was arrested this morning in Las Vegas, and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leavitt this afternoon and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Nelson was released on a personal recognizance bond. Co-defendants Ramaekers and Jones are currently at large.

This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly M. Frayn.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Return to Top