Immigrants arrested in Newport after attempting to obtain state IDs

NEWPORT — Two individuals in the United States illegally remain in custody after attempting to fraudulently obtain state identification cards at the Newport Revenue Office, according to state and local officials.

The suspects, whose identities have not been released, provided fraudulent documents in an effort to acquire Arkansas state IDs. Recognizing the documents as potentially fake, employees at the Newport Revenue Office immediately alerted the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s (DFA) Investigative Division, which oversees the state’s 134 Revenue Offices.

The DFA and Newport Police Department then launched an investigation that led to the arrest of both individuals on December 27. They were charged with felony forgery, a serious offense under Arkansas law, for attempting to illegally obtain official identification. The state requires proof of legal presence and residency to issue a driver’s license or state ID card.

Following their arrests, the suspects provided false names to Newport Police, but further investigation confirmed that both were in the United States illegally. They were subsequently interviewed by an agent with Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Division. The suspects remain in custody at the Jackson County Jail, with federal charges pending.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders commended law enforcement for their swift action, stating that Arkansas will not tolerate attempts to abuse state documents to reside illegally in the U.S. She praised the efforts of DFA staff, Newport Police, and federal agencies for recognizing and stopping the fraudulent activity.

DFA Secretary Jim Hudson reinforced that this case serves as a clear warning to anyone attempting fraud at a Revenue Office. In a press release on the DFA website, he emphasized the crucial role that state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards play in public safety and assured that DFA will not tolerate fraud at any level.

“We will work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure these crimes are pursued and prosecuted,” Hudson stated. He also expressed appreciation for the diligence of Revenue Office employees and the collaboration between local and federal authorities in addressing the case.

State officials also reiterated that employees across all Revenue Offices will continue to be trained to detect and report fraudulent documents, ensuring the integrity of Arkansasissued identification.

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Landlord sentenced to 20 years for sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion

SEARCY — A Searcy man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison today.

Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.

Thomas Ray Kelso, 74, of Searcy, Arkansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 1, 2023. Prior to that, an investigation by the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force revealed that Kelso frequently distributed methamphetamine at an apartment complex in Searcy. Kelso, who owned the apartment complex, exploited female residents in the complex and forced them into performing sex acts in order to keep the power on in their apartment, satisfy their rent obligations, or obtain illegal

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narcotics.

The investigation also revealed that when one woman refused Kelso’s sexual advances, he pulled her electricity meter to cut her power.

Kelso also employed one woman to recruit other women for him so he could exploit them to engage in performing sexual acts on him.

After a two-day trial that concluded on Aug. 14, 2024, a federal grand jury found Kelso, guilty on all four counts for which he was indicted: three counts of sex trafficking and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Judge Moody also sentenced Kelso to five years’ supervised release, a $50,000 fine, and $50,000 in restitution for a total of $100,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

The investigation was conducted by the Searcy Police Department and Central Arkansas Drug Task Force, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Shelby Shelton.