ANTHEM, AZ – A Valley business owner from Brazil has become the first business owner in Arizona to be criminally charged in an investigation of suspected employer sanctions violations.
Raphael Libardi, co-owner of Aracruz International Granite is accused of stealing a dead man's Social Security number and using it to purchase two vehicles and two homes, one of which is in foreclosure, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Libardi, 48, was indicted Tuesday on charges of identity theft, fraudulent schemes and forgery for allegedly using an elderly man's Social Security number to set up his business and buy the homes and vehicle.
MCSO investigated Libardi based on information received through Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Illegal Immigration Hotline.
On June 30, deputies conducted search warrants at Aracruz International Granite, located at 2310 W. Sherman Street in Phoenix, as well as Libardi's home in Anthem.
Two of the suspect's children, Ive Libardi, 25, and Isac Libardi, 20, were also arrested at his business for suspicion of being in the country illegally, according to the MCSO press release.
Authorities said some of the 15 to 20 people who work at the business were in the country illegally.
No civil case has been brought against the business owned by Libardi -- or any other business in Arizona -- under the state's 18-month-old civil law prohibiting businesses from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. Still, authorities say they were investigating Libardi's business for possible employer sanction violations.
"We are making steady progress, and we are moving up the corporate ladder," said Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, whose office is prosecuting Libardi.
Thomas said authorities in Maricopa County were investigating 20 other businesses for possible employer sanctions violations.
A business found to have violated the civil law could face the suspension or revocation of their licenses to operate in the state.
Prosecutors said Libardi, who is being held in jail without bond, started using an elderly man's Social Security number in 2002.
The June 30 news release also stated, "It has been noted that Libardi has donated $5,000 annually to the Republican Congressional National Committee."
