by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 8, 2022

Police found fake immigration stamps in the passports of a pair of immigrants from the Dominican Republic who were stopped at a checkpoint in Ladyville on Tuesday, September 6. The two were charged jointly for using a permit without authorization.

On September 6, Lewis Sanchez Arias, 41, and Gary Pimentel Arias, 29, presented visitor permits that were dated September 2 and were scheduled to expire on October 1 to immigration officer Dalia Mai. When they were arraigned in court on Wednesday, both men were unrepresented and pleaded guilty to the offense, and they were each fined one thousand dollars, which is to be paid within six months.

Lewis and Gary Arias were charged jointly with one count each of using and uttering upon a permit that they are not entitled to use. Also, Misael Salazar, 23, the taxi driver who was transporting them, was slapped with two counts of facilitating the commission of a crime and was fined one thousand dollars for each count, which he is to pay by December 13.