KC Reporter

A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to a racketeering conspiracy involving the transportation and harboring of unauthorized aliens, as well as falsification of federal employment documents.

Lorenzo Castro-Manzanarez, 43, who resided in Springfield, Missouri, admitted to participating in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy from January 1, 2018, to August 10, 2021. According to his plea, he was involved in transporting and harboring individuals not authorized to live or work in the United States. He also acknowledged encouraging these individuals to remain in the country by providing them with jobs at multiple Mexican restaurants across the Midwest and allowing them to work using fraudulent identification documents.

Castro-Manzanarez stated that these actions were taken to keep his restaurants staffed and profitable, giving him an illegal competitive advantage. He further admitted that he falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on a Form I-9 and used a counterfeit Social Security card during the employment verification process.

After being indicted and while out on bond, Castro-Manzanarez continued employing unauthorized workers, provided housing for them under his name, and allowed their use of fraudulent identification documents at his establishments in Springfield, Columbia, and Jefferson City.

Following his plea hearing, Castro-Manzanarez was taken into custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The final sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of advisory guidelines and statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, Nicholas P. Heberle, David Wagner, and Leigh Farmakidis. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with support from several agencies including the United States Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; Kansas Bureau of Investigation; Kansas Department of Labor; Missouri State Highway Patrol; Kansas Highway Patrol; and Butler Police Department.

This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative coordinated by the Department of Justice that focuses resources on combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations through efforts such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).