It appears the arrests of three individuals on healing arts violations and, in the case of one suspect, human smuggling and identity theft, were just part of a much larger criminal enterprise that came to light Friday afternoon.
According to a news release from the Emporia Police Department, an investigation began back in late April when officers attempted to locate an individual with an outstanding warrant at an east Emporia residence. Following the execution of the search warrant, officers allegedly located narcotics and “apparent” fraudulent documents, which led to additional investigations and the discovery of a ring of suspects involved in producing, supplying and using false documents.
Said documents include, but are not limited to, social security cards, identification cards and driver’s licenses. In total, officers executed more than 10 search warrants, seized two vehicles and approximately $6,000, and arrested eight individuals on the following charges:
Francisco German Pichardo-Machado: Making False Information, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Martin Pichardo-Machado: Making False Information, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Identity Fraud
Hugo Antonio Cardona-Argueta: Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference with Law Enforcement, Making False Information, Identity Theft
Martha Kenia Lopez-Alvarado: Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference with Law Enforcement, Making False Information, Identity Theft
Iris Tatiana Sandoval-Flores: Human Smuggling, Identity Theft, Dealing in False Identification Documents, Unlicensed Practice of Dentistry or Dental Hygiene
Ana Raquel Figueroa: Unlicensed Practice of Dentistry or Dental Hygiene, Unlawful Obtaining a Prescription-Only Drug
Rigoberto J Sandoval: Unlicensed Practice of Dentistry or Dental Hygiene, Unlawful Obtaining a Prescription-Only Drug
Edward Joharly Benavides-Salgado: Identity Theft
Sandoval-Flores, Sandoval and Figeuroa’s arrests were announced this past Friday and documents posted to the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal indicate illegal activity between January 2023 and early this month. The following court appearances have been announced in the case:
Iris Sandoval-Flores: Preliminary hearing May 29.
Rigoberto Sandoval: Pretrial hearing June 2
Ana Figueroa: Pretrial hearing June 2.
Francisco German Pichardo-Machado: Preliminary hearing June 10
Martin Pichardo-Machado: Preliminary hearing June 10
Hugo Antonio Cardona-Argueta: Preliminary hearing June 10
Martha Kenia Lopez-Alvarado: Preliminary hearing June 10
Court details for Edward Joharly Benavides-Salgado are currently pending.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more details as they become available.
