The U.S. Attorney's Office has filed a request in federal court for forfeiture of the homes to the government because they allegedly had been used to harbor people who had entered the country illegally.
Cervantes, who investigators say knowingly rented to dozens of undocumented tenants, has agreed to the forfeiture as part of a plea agreement.
The 50-year-old - a native of Peru who allegedly is an undocumented worker herself - pleaded guilty last month to altering a Social Security card and using unlawfully obtained documents for employment. She was sentenced on June 25 by federal Judge Paul Cassell to time served and her case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The criminal charges against Cervantes accuse her of using fake documents to get a job at a JC Penney in Spanish Fork. A charging document says the store was deceived by phony employment authorization and Social Security cards presented by Cervantes, who came to the United States in 2001 and remained past the six-month expiration date of her visitor visa.
The discoveries of the fake papers and the undocumented tenants were linked to a drug investigation.
According to the forfeiture request filed earlier this week, an informant for the West Jordan Police Department set up a May 1 meeting to buy 10 pounds of marijuana. The department and the Utah County Major Crimes Drug Task Force set up surveillance at a Lindon house and saw the suspected dealer and a woman leave the residence and head toward the meeting place.
The two were stopped and a search turned up approximately 10 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle, the forfeiture request says. Both have been charged in Utah's 4th District Court with drug distribution.
Armed with a search warrant, officers allegedly found a dozen undocumented immigrants living in the Lindon house, as well as 100 pounds of marijuana. Each of the occupants was paying $250 to $400 in rent to Cervantes, according to the forfeiture request.
ICE agents then learned that Cervantes owned four properties. They allege there were 12 undocumented people residing in the Lindon house; three at a Provo duplex; a total of 14 in an Orem four-plex; and an unspecified number at a Pleasant Grove home.
Court records do not say how Cervantes was able to buy the homes; an investigation is ongoing.
