Dona Ana Count poll worker pleads guilty

who faces upt to 185 years in prison … gave us the first insight into that alleged identity theft and check- fraud scheme … the one her mom is accused of masterming. 24-year-old denise ceniceros made a plea deal ith the district attorney’s office… she peladed guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud over 5-hundred dollars. she could have gotten an 18 month prison sentence. instead she got 18-months probation and the racketeering charge dropped. our new mexico mobile newsroom crew had the only camera in court today. so you’ll see this only on abc-seven … judge – “i’m asking you why you didn’t prevent it?” denise c – “cause it was my mother. i didn’t think she would go to that extreme.” judge – “you’re telling me that you didn’t understand that you were doing something against the law and dishonest. is that what you’re telling me?” denise – “i didn’ know the full extent of what was going on until later and then i realized i could’ve prevented it and i could’ve done something about it.” denise cenicero’s only connection to dona ana county was being a poll worker. prosecutors say her mom, maria ceniceros, used her to get i.d. information from registered voters. maria allegedly took that information and submitted fraudulent applications to the federal government. all to get tax refund checks from the u.s. treasury. denise – “i don’t know sir. different people. three different checks. i don’t remember their names.” judge – “why would they be at your house?” denise – “because it was the scheme they were doing, the racketeering scheme. armando was the one bringing them to my mom and he had left them at my house and thats when she asked me for the names on the checks.” judge – “so you’r pleading guilty to a felony charge for telling your mother the names were on checks at your house?” denise – “yes, your honor.” denise mom faces all sorts of charges 113 counts of identity theft… plus severeal more for fraud, forgery, racketerring and money laundering. maria’s husband, and denise’s dad was also allegedly involved in the scheme. he pleaded not guilty to felony racketeering and conspiracy charges. trial dates for denise’s parents have nto been set. a few other people are facing charges in this case as well. and prosecutors with i-d information of more than 1- hundred people, the group could have defrauded the government out of millions of dollars if they weren’t caught.