Company Execs Face Criminal Immigration Charges
The president and three managers of the Shipley Do-Nut Flour and Supply Company were charged last week with various immigration violations, including knowingly hiring illegal aliens and felonious conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens. The charges against the Houston-based company arose from a criminal investigation ICE initiated early this year that resulted in the administrative arrests of 27 illegal aliens in April. More than 40 percent of the company's workforce was determined to be illegal.The ICE investigation found that the majority of the company’s I-9s were deficient or completed years after an illegal alien began working for the company, and that the company failed to take corrective measures after receiving Social Security Administration “No-Match” letters. ICE agents recovered 42 “No-Match” letters that were ignored. If the president of the company pleads guilty as expected, he will face a maximum of six months imprisonment and a fine of up to $3,000 per illegal alien employee. Each charge against the managers carries a maximum punishment of six months in jail and a $15,000 fine. The company faces a maximum fine of $500,000 in addition to the $1.3 million it has already agreed to pay in lieu of forfeiting company-owned residences where illegal alien employees were housed.