Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael J. Folmar, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office; Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations; Guy P. Fallen, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; and John R. Powell, Director, State of Florida, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, announced today that a jury found Audie Watson, 76, of Tamarac guilty for fraud, immigration, and money laundering crimes. The defendant is scheduled for sentencing on December 4, 2009, before United States District Judge William J. Zloch.

The evidence at trial established that Watson, the owner and president of Universal Service Dedicated to God, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, conspired with his employees to sell documents purporting to confer membership in a Native American tribe called the Pembina Nation Little Shell. Watson sold these memberships to illegal aliens at a cost of $1,500 per individual and $2,000 per couple. As shown at trial, the defendant sold the supposed memberships in order for his customers to make claims of Native American lineage to immigration authorities and thereby avoid removal from the United States.

The jury returned its guilty verdict today on all ten counts of mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341; encouraging aliens to reside in the United States, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324; and conspiracy to commit these offenses, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. The jury also found the defendant guilty of money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957.

The mail fraud counts each carry a maximum imprisonment term of twenty years. The counts for money laundering and encouraging illegal aliens to reside in the United States each carry a maximum imprisonment term of ten years. The conspiracy count carries a maximum imprisonment term of five years. As to every count, the defendant potentially faces a maximum fine of $250,000.

Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, ICE’s Office of Investigations, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco) in connection with the investigation of this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Keene and Laurence Bardfeld.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.