Apr.02, 2010, 1:25 PM

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced Thursday the arrest of two illegal aliens and the discovery of a money laundering operation.

Matilde Reyes-Portillo and Armando Acosta-Monroy were arrested after Reyes-Portillo was stopped on a traffic violation and found to be without a driver’s license. Reyes-Portillo gave consent for deputies to search her residence at 1509 W. 11th Street. Acosta-Monroy was at the home and also gave consent for a search.

Inside the residence, deputies from the BCSO Warrants Division found numerous sets of false documentation papers consisting of driver’s licenses, Permanent Resident Cards, and Passports. Three Passports had the same name, date of birth, and information but contained the pictures of three different people. Also found was over $11,000 in US currency that the couple was allegedly using as payroll money.

Deputies believe Reyes-Portillo and Acosta-Monroy were managing a group of construction workers here in the United States illegally, driving them to construction sites in their vehicles, and handling the payroll for the group. Also seized were two Chevrolet pickup trucks.

Acosta-Monroy was charged with Criminal Use of Personal Identification and Money Laundering. Reyes-Portillo, DOB 2/23/87, was charged with Driving With Out a License.

Both have been in the US illegally and are now being processed for deportation. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges and arrests are expected.