Several defendants in a Lyon County case involving accusations of human smuggling, identity theft and illegal dentistry were set for court hearings this week.
Hugo Cardona-Argueta, Martha Lopez-Alvarado, Francisco Pichardo-Machado and Martin Pichardo-Machado all had their preliminary hearings moved to July 9 at prosecutor request due to scheduling conflicts. As for charges:
*Cardona-Argueta is charged with possession of marijuana, interference with law enforcement, making false information and identity theft.
*Lopez-Alvarado is charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, making false information and identity theft.
*Both Francisco Pichardo-Machado and Martin Pichardo-Machado are charged with making false information, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Last week, the accused illegal dentist in the case, Rigoberto Sandoval-Sandoval, and co-defendant Ana Figueroa failed to appear for their respective hearings and both now have arrest warrants on file. Both are charged with unlicensed practice of dentistry or dental hygiene and with unlawful obtaining of a prescription-only drug.
The lead defendant, Iris Sandoval-Flores, will be back in court July 1 for a preliminary hearing on charges of illegal dentistry, human smuggling, identity theft and dealing in false documents. Co-defendant Edwar Benavidez-Salgado has a preliminary hearing July 7 on single counts of identity theft, identity fraud, making false information and dealing in false ID documents.
Authorities say illegal activity in this case dates back at least to January 2024. As part of a redacted affidavit, Emporia Police investigators say they talked with somebody who accused Sandoval-Flores of selling the person false documents at a cost of around $800 for the purpose of working in the United States. The investigation also led to word of an unlicensed dentist operating out of Sandoval-Flores’ house — as well as the person paying $160 for a filling and dental cleaning. Following a search warrant, which included the presence of dentistry equipment and furniture, officers say they found three fake identification cards, a Social Security card and two small notebooks containing Social Security numbers, names, addresses, birthdays, phone numbers and email addresses.
