ST. GEORGE – An ongoing identity theft and forgery investigation culminated on Sunday, May 22, 2011 when St. George Police Department detectives, working with Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, located and arrested two El Salvadorian criminal alien fugitives with ties to transnational gangs.

Luis A. Cano and Juan C. Candray were both arrested and booked into jail. This case is related to the St. George Police Department’s and Homeland Security Investigation’s fraudulent identity and security threat initiative in the St. George area.

The two men came to the attention of investigators as possible instigators of multiple disorderly incidents reported at the soccer fields in the Little Valley area. Both men have previously been deported, and Cano has been convicted of numerous violent crimes, including assault on a police officer and assault by a prisoner. Police learned they had likely used identification information belonging to other people in order to obtain employment and other benefits in the St. George area.

Detectives located Candray and Cano as they were traveling to the soccer fields early Sunday morning. The investigation led detectives to a residence on the 1500 W. block of 1400 N. in St. George. Several forged identification documents were located, including social security cards, a resident alien card, and a permanent resident card. Furthermore, financial paperwork indicating monetary value was obtained by the identity theft.

Luis A. Cano and Juan C. Candray were both arrested and booked into jail on the following charges: one 2^nd degree felony count of Identity Theft under UT 76-6-1102, which was a 2nd degree felony due to the fact they made more than $5,000 working under another person’s identity. Additionally, they were each charged with two 3rd degree felony counts of Possession of a Forgery under UT 76-6-502 for possessing the forged writings. Their bonds were set at $20,000 and an ICE detainer was placed on them. Detectives with the Washington County Area Gang Task Force assisted with the apprehension of the suspects.