Houston firm to pay $21 million for employing illegal aliens

[peejay 327]

Houston firm to pay $21 million in immigration case

By SUSAN CARROLL

2008 Houston Chronicle

Dec. 19, 2008, 6:53PM

A Houston-based pallet manufacturing company has agreed to pay the federal government nearly $21 million to avoid prosecution for hiring illegal immigrants, the largest such settlement on record.

IFCO Systems North America signed the agreement late Thursday in New York, effectively resolving the company's criminal liability in connection with one of the biggest workplace enforcement raids in the nation's history. The next-largest settlement on record for a company accused of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants was reached in 2005 with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., for $11 million.

Andrew T. Baxter, the acting U.S. Attorney in Albany, N.Y., where the case originated, said the settlement "severely punishes IFCO for its serious immigration and employment violations, but it also allows the corporation to continue its operations, so that its lawful employees and innocent shareholders do not suffer the consequences of a business failure in this economy."

The government began its investigation of IFCO following a tip to ICE in February 2005, that illegal immigrants at an IFCO plant in Albany were seen ripping up their W-2 forms. On April 19, 2006, ICE agents arrested 1,187 illegal immigrants at more than 40 locations nationwide.

Seven IFCO managers were also criminally charged with crimes including: knowingly hiring illegal aliens, transporting and harboring illegal aliens and conspiring to transport illegal aliens. All seven have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Five additional IFCO managers were indicted in February 2008 for similar crimes and are awaiting trial.

The IFCO settlement agreement concerns only the liability of the corporation and does not address any pending or possible future criminal charges against individual employees.

John P. Torres, acting assistant secretary of Homeland Security, said in a statement that the settlement sends a "powerful message that ICE will investigate and bring to justice companies which hire illegal workers."

In all of fiscal year 2007, ICE secured fines and forfeitures of more than $30 million in worksite enforcement cases. ICE also arrested 863 people in criminal cases and made more than 4,000 administrative

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6173693.html

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Houston firm to pay $21 million in immigration case

By SUSAN CARROLL

2008 Houston Chronicle

Dec. 19, 2008, 6:53PM

The government began its investigation of IFCO following a tip to ICE in February 2005, that illegal immigrants at an IFCO plant in Albany were seen ripping up their W-2 forms. On April 19, 2006, ICE agents arrested 1,187 illegal immigrants at more than 40 locations nationwide.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6173693.html

Gee. Why would they do that? Oh yeah... claim 10 dependents and barely pay their 'fair' share.

[Ban Hammer 14,293]

hopefully this news story will make other companies wake up.