Thread: 7-Eleven Cracks Down on Franchisees After I.C.E. Seizes 14 Stores

7-Eleven Cracks Down on Franchisees After Federal Authorities Seize 14 Stores


An Islip, N.Y., 7-Eleven was one of 14 franchise locations raided by federal agents in an immigration probe. (ICE)

By AARON KATERSKY (@aaronkatersky) , SUSANNA KIM (@skimm) and ALYSSA NEWCOMB (@alyssanewcomb)
June 20, 2013

The corporate office of 7-Eleven told its 5,600 franchise owners of the chain's convenience stores on Thursday that it was requiring an internal review of personnel files after federal authorities seized 14 stores in New York and Virginia this week that employed undocumented workers in a "modern-day plantation system."
The owners of the 7-Eleven franchise stores allegedly forced undocumented workers with stolen identities to work 100 hours a week for a fraction of their wages, according to federal authorities.
Ten 7-Eleven stores in New York and four in Virginia were seized on Monday as part of the federal investigation that found the workers from Pakistan were given identities stolen from children and the deceased, according to federal prosecutor Loretta E. Lynch.
Farrukh Baig, his wife Bushra, and seven others were charged with fraud, identity theft and concealing illegal immigrants to work in their stores. Court records said they employed illegal workers since 2000, forced them to work long hours for less pay and required them to live in residences owned and controlled by the store owners.
In the letter to franchise owners sent on Thursday, 7-Eleven's chief operating officer and executive vice president, Darren Rebelez, explained that field consultants and market managers will conduct reviews on site to evaluate compliance.
"This letter is to remind you of the required I-9 compliance steps and to outline some of the consequences for failure to comply. These requirements are mandatory for all franchisees," wrote Rebelez. "Failure to comply will result in serious consequences, including the possible termination of your franchise agreement."


7-Eleven Stores Raided in Immigration Probe Watch Video



Incorrect or incomplete I-9 forms could result in fines from governmental agencies of $110 to $1,100 per I-9 form, Rebelez told franchise owners.
"More importantly, you could face criminal liability if you are found to have knowingly employed individuals who are not authorized or eligible to work in the United States," he said.
Franchise owners have until the end of June to conduct internal I-9 reviews and field consultants will visit stores starting July 1, Rebelez said.
"If any I-9 is determined to be missing or to have substantive violations, we will issue you a breach notice requiring an appropriate cure of the deficiencies," Rebelez wrote. "Failure to cure any such breach within the required time period could result in the termination of your Franchise Agreement."
Based in Dallas and established in 1927, 7-Eleven calls itself the world's largest convenience store chain with more than 50,250 stores in 16 countries. There are 10,100 stores in North America.
Rebelez said the company acknowledges franchise owners are the "sole employer of all associates in your stores, and we are not attempting to interfere with your employment relationship or control how you hire, fire or manage your employees."
"However, we have a critical need to protect the integrity and reputation of the 7-Eleven Brand, a right to insist upon your compliance with the Franchise Agreement, and to ensure that all franchised stores are being operated in a lawful manner," he wrote.
The government's investigation, which is one of the largest criminal immigrant employment investigations ever by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, began when several of the employees tipped off police to the longstanding practice, authorities said.
Federal authorities located at least 18 undocumented workers on Monday and said they could face deportation.
"These defendants ruthlessly exploited their immigrant employees, stealing their wages and requiring them to live in unregulated boarding houses, in effect creating a modern-day plantation system," Lynch said.
The federal probe has widened to 40 locations in seven states, including Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.
A spokeswoman for 7-Eleven previously said it "will take aggressive actions to audit the employment status of all its franchisees' employees" and pledged full cooperation with the federal probe.
After initial court appearances by eight of the nine defendants, they were ordered to be held without bail. Their next court appearances are scheduled for July 15.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/eleven-reviews-compliance-5600-franchisees-authorities-seize-ny/story?id=19449002

Goimg to be a lot of help wanted signs going in their windows,

Maybe I can find a job!

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

The corporate office of 7-Eleven told its 5,600 franchise owners of the chain's convenience stores on Thursday that it was requiring an internal review of personnel files after federal authorities seized 14 stores in New York and Virginia this week that employed undocumented workers [- a.k.a. illegal aliens -] in a "modern-day plantation system."

Importing illegal aliens corrupts buisnesspeople, just as importing illegal drugs corrupts law enforcement people. The solution is always the same: eliminate the illegal element. Universal E-Verify will eliminate the illegal alien problem, by eliminating the jobs lure; legalizing drugs will eliminate the drug problem - and lets us tax the sale. (We'll need an education program, but that'll be much cheaper and much less destructive of the quality of American life than is keeping drugs illegal.)
*****************************************
Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade

7-Eleven takes over 2 additional stores in Hampton Roads


by 13News

WVEC.com
Posted on June 19, 2013 at 5:14 PM
Updated yesterday at 9:50 PM

Related:

• 7-Eleven forced labor scheme suspects in courtadd to reading list
• DOCUMENT: Human trafficking investigation- VA, NY
• PHOTOS: 4 local 7-Elevens investigated in 2-state illegal immigrant employment caseadd to reading list

7-Elevens under investigation




NEW YORK-- 7-Eleven's parent company has taken over operation of 2 additional stores in Hampton Roads following a two-state investigation into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
The stores are located at 1584 General Booth Blvd. in Virginia Beach and 2610 Jefferson Avenue in Newport News. The move brings to six the number of Virginia stores taken over by corporate.
7-Eleven spokeswoman Cara Morris Stern said the stores are now open under the management of 7-Eleven, Inc.
The other locations are at 725 London Blvd., Portsmouth and owned by Wajiha Razzak; 4701 Taylor Road in Chesapeake owned by Raj Masand; 1088 W. 26th Street in Norfolk owned by Shagufta Baig and 1510 Brambletown Ave. in Norfolk, owned by Raj Masand, sources close to the investigation revealed.
Three people - 52-year-old Zahid Baig of Chesapeake, 62-year-old Shannawaz Baig of Va. Beach and 34-year-old Tariq Rana of Chesapeake - were due in Norfolk Federal Court Monday afternoon on charges of wire fraud conspiracy, identity theft and alien harboring charges. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy.

"Obviously, we knew just from being neighbors with them that they were involved with 7-Eleven. When our kids or something would play out in they yard, they would, you know, bring Slurpees and things like that," said Josh Feldman, who lives next door to Zahid Baig in Las Gaviotas in Chesapeake.

Feldman told 13News Baig and his family moved to the home on Aguila Drive about 15 months ago.

"We're very surprised by it. It certainly got the phone tree operating throughout the neighborhood in the morning with all the police out there. Everybody was calling around to try to figure out exactly what it was," Feldman said.

The manager of a store on W. 26th Street in Norfolk was the target of Homeland Security’s investigation into the human smuggling, a source close to the investigation told 13News.

The source also stated that Virginia stores were not raided but were questioned, and that agents with ICE and the Dept. of Homeland Security had gone to the Norfolk location to investigate.

The son of the franchisee of the Brambleton Avenue store told 13News he spoke to the federal investigators and told them his store had no illegal immigrants.

"These defendants ruthlessly exploited their immigrant employees, stealing their wages and requiring them to live in unregulated boarding houses, in effect creating a modern day plantation system,” stated United States Attorney Loretta Lynch.

The inquiry involves allegations that store owners helped smuggle workers into the U.S. from Pakistan.

ABC News says nine people have been charged with running what they call a modern day plantation. Illegal workers were allegedly given stolen identities and forced to work 100 hour weeks, paid for a fraction of it and forced to pay rent to their employers to live in boarding houses.

Federal authorities said they tried to conceal the immigrants' employment by stealing the identities of about two dozen people -- including children, deceased individuals, and a Coast Guard cadet -- and submitting the information to the 7-Eleven payroll department.

ABC News added that the investigation started after a couple of the employees tipped police.

In all, 18 illegal workers were found and all could be deported.

The 7-Eleven company says in a statement that it is cooperating with federal authorities.

http://www.wvec.com/my-city/nnews/Two-more-7-Eleven-stores--212208121.html

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

Goimg to be a lot of help wanted signs going in their windows,

yes now the American can get a job now they should start to lookibg into the company also Like TJX kappa Book
& many more good job