Video: Technology Helps Law Enforcement Charge Illegal Man

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Chickasaw County, Miss. (WCBI) — A Calhoun county man suspected of bootlegging beer and whiskey was arrested, instead, for cocaine possession.

Ismael Rodriguez is the real name of the man who was arrested by Calhoun County deputies but he’s also known as Oscar Perez and Edgardo Ramirez.

In 2009, he was arrested in Chickasaw County for the same crime under the name Oscar Perez.

Rodriguez has been living in this country illegally, using the two aliases.

Calhoun County Sheriff Greg Pollan said illegal immigration isn’t a daily issue in his county, but said that they encounter it on, more or less, a weekly basis.

Pollan also said that Rodriguez, who went as Perez back in 2009, was only indicted on the charges of cocaine possession because he opted to self-deport himself. Pollan went on to explain that “Oscar Perez” was deported, by returned under his real name of Ismael Rodriguez.

To help solve these crimes, law enforcement turn to the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, or AFIS.

The system records the fingerprints of any felon or criminal that needs to be investigated and the fingerprint data is then sent to Jackson, the F.B.I., and a national database.

Those databases then send any information on those fingerprints that have been registered in 15 minutes or less.

“We’ll catch people from California, Texas, use two or three different names…”, explained Chickasaw County Chief Deputy James Meyers, “…it is a great investigative tool for the county.”

“That system has been invaluable to our county…”, said Pollan, “…we had it installed about a year, year and a half ago now and…its paid for itself many, many times.”

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charges from 2009 and this past week.

The judge presiding over the case, Judge John Gregory, sentenced Rodriguez to eight years for both charges but suspended 6 years from each charge, ordering Rodriguez to serve two years in Chickasaw County and two years in Calhoun County.

Calhoun County Sheriffs will now contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officials to see if they can have Rodriguez deported.

Deputies say there has been frustration because national leaders constantly change deportation rules.

Pollan says a few years ago, if an illegal immigrant was arrested, then ICE would take control of the process.

Then the rules changed to an immigrant had to be indicted before I.C.E. could take action.

Now, the person must be convicted before I.C.E. can deport someone.

“I know several I.C.E. agents that are frustrated…”, says Pollan, “…they don’t agree with the policy but they’re bound to go by the rules and regulations like we all are.”

Now, Calhoun and Chickasaw County deputies will wait to see what I.C.E. decides on what to do with Rodriguez and if he will serve four years in the local jails.