A Brazilian business owner who runs a granite contracting business in Phoenix has been indicted on forgery, identify theft and fraud charges and is the first business owner facing criminal prosecution as the result of an immigration investigation from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.



Raphael Libardi, 48, Tuesday was indicted by a Maricopa County grand jury on 10 counts of fraud, ID theft, forgery and vehicle theft. The Anthem man is a Brazilian national and co-owner of Aracruz International Granite. The company imports and sells granite and marble slabs and counter tops used in homes and commercial buildings.



The Sheriff's office and county prosecutors office say Libardi is in the U.S. illegally and used the Social Security number of a now-deceased elderly man to purchase a $500,000 home in Anthem, establish his business and buy two cars. Thomas' office said Wednesday one of those vehicles was a Cadillac Escalade.



The county is also investigating whether Aracruz workers are in the U.S. legally.



Libardi was arrested by MCSO deputies June 30 and Thomas said Wednesday he is being held in county jail without bond. A telephone call and e-mail to Aracruz's Phoenix offices were not returned Wednesday.



Thomas and Arpaio have conducted workplace raids under the Legal Arizona Worker's Act but the law requires prosecutors to prove businesses knowingly hired illegal immigrants. Thomas said this was the first criminal prosecution of a business owner arising from an immigration investigation. Previous workplace raids by the MCSO have produced charges against undocumented workers but not business owners.