Barreto brother faces federal immigration indictment

by Patsy R. Brumfield/NEMS Daily Journal

MEMPHIS - Jose Alfredo Barreto-Ortiz will remain in jail after a new indictment accused him of immigration violations.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton's detention order said she found no condition or combination of conditions of release "will reasonably assure" that Barreto-Ortiz will show up for court hearings.

Her order also directed officials not to put him in a general population with people waiting or serving sentences or being held during appeals.

Barreto-Ortiz is the brother of Ramon Barreto of Union County, whom authorities believe fled to Mexico with his wife, Janet, in May 2009 as they faced trial in the death of their 2-year-old daughter adopted from Guatemala.

When Barreto-Ortiz was arrested, U.S. marshals said they hoped he would tell them where the Barretos are.

U.S. District Court records show a "redacted" indictment on which he's being held - one count that he illegally entered the U.S. and hid that information from immigration officers, and a second count of using a fraudulent Social Security card as evidence he was authorized to stay or work in the U.S.

He is represented by the Federal Public Defenders Office in Memphis, where he was living when the Barretos were arrested for the child's death.

Wednesday, the judge revoked the $10,000 bond granted Barreto-Ortiz when he was first arrested.

The court record also shows he pleaded not guilty during the detention/bond hearing and was returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service.

Contact Patsy R. Brumfield at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.