Thread: Former Twin Peaks owner pleads guilty to hiring illegal workers

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Former Twin Peaks owner pleads guilty to hiring illegal workers



Le Grande Tetons has sold or is selling the Twins Peaks branch that is the subject of the federal lawsuit. It’s located at 8310 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita. Julie Mah The Wichita Eagle

BY AMY RENEE LEIKER
The Wichita Eagle

The company that owned and ran a Wichita Twin Peaks restaurant caught employing illegal immigrants pleaded guilty to charges Thursday in federal court.

A lawyer for Le Grande Tetons, LLC, entered the plea on the company’s behalf Thursday before U.S. magistrate Judge Gwynne Birzer in Wichita, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. Birzer imposed a $50,000 fine, he said noting that companies or people caught in a pattern or practice of employing unauthorized aliens can be fined up to $3,000 per worker.

Under a agreement that set forth the fine amount, prosecutors in exchange for a guilty plea agreed not to pursue any more charges against Le Grande Tetons, its owners or employees — current or former — except for two former managers who remain under investigation, Grissom said.

Le Grande Tetons has sold or is selling the Twins Peaks branch that is the subject of the federal lawsuit. It’s located at 8310 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita.

The Twins Peaks location came under scrutiny after an inspection in September 2013 by the Department of Homeland Security found the company was employing more than 20 unauthorized workers, most in its kitchen.

The manager there agreed to fire the workers immediately but Homeland Security later received information indicating several of the same workers had been rehired.

Authorities executed federal search warrants at both Wichita Twin Peaks locations in July.

Reach Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @amyreneeleiker.

http://www.kansas.com/news/local/cri...e35604441.html

How
can I respect any American business man when they will not police their own? For instance, time and time again we hear of another construction company caving to hiring aliens "to be able to compete." Did they try to turn in the law breaking employer? Do we have an entire nation of law breakers? You don't have to ask me twice!

Originally Posted by kevinssdad

How
can I respect any American business man when they will not police their own? For instance, time and time again we hear of another construction company caving to hiring aliens "to be able to compete." Did they try to turn in the law breaking employer? Do we have an entire nation of law breakers? You don't have to ask me twice!

Go ahead and turn in the law breakers. Those law breakers IF caught get fines that are far less then they saved hiring illegal aliens. They consider it a cost of doing business and in the end those companies breaking the law still come out ahead because they are given breaks and don't face the real teeth in the laws due to the justice department not wanting to really prosecute and punish them. This business for instance was hiring illegal aliens for years and multiple. A $50k fine is likely what they saved in just one year in hiring 3 or 4 illegal aliens over citizens paying fair wages and paying into the system properly.

Until the law is enforced to the point where its no longer profitable to hire illegal aliens especially when caught business's will still struggle and feel they need to cave and do the same to compete because those caught still padded their wallets and came out ahead.

It doesn't say whether or not they deported the illegals, who broke several laws. In the past they have been getting big fines from the businesses and letting the illegals go off to work for someone else. I wonder if they put a tracker on the illegals so they will know who to fine?

Originally Posted by ReformUSA2012

Go ahead and turn in the law breakers. Those law breakers IF caught get fines that are far less then they saved hiring illegal aliens. They consider it a cost of doing business and in the end those companies breaking the law still come out ahead because they are given breaks and don't face the real teeth in the laws due to the justice department not wanting to really prosecute and punish them. This business for instance was hiring illegal aliens for years and multiple. A $50k fine is likely what they saved in just one year in hiring 3 or 4 illegal aliens over citizens paying fair wages and paying into the system properly.

Until the law is enforced to the point where its no longer profitable to hire illegal aliens especially when caught business's will still struggle and feel they need to cave and do the same to compete because those caught still padded their wallets and came out ahead.

Right you are, wasn't thinking. That just causes me more disrespect for American businessmen or women!

The Twin Peaks Restaurant is a franchise.
The owner had to sell his business and give up the franchise.
It cost $1 million to more than $2 million to build and open a franchise.
And it takes 9 to 12 months to build and open.

1. The initial cost of building a Twin Peaks restaurant ranges from$1,309,800 – $2,365,900. This includes construction, furniture, fixtures, equipment, trade dress, working capital and certain other start-up expenses. Part of this investment is the initial franchise fee, which is $50,000.
   FAQ - Twin Peaks Restaurant
   www.twinpeaksrestaurant.com/franchise/faq/Twin Peaks
2. 
   "Le Grande Tetons has sold or is selling the Twins Peaks branch that is the subject of the federal lawsuit. It’s located at 8310 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita."