Sentencing is delayed in illegals case

[Crusader01]

http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 40355/1014


Sentencing is delayed in illegals case
By Paul A. Long
Post staff reporter



So they can continue to investigate the use of illegal immigrant workers in Northern Kentucky's home-building industry, federal prosecutors have secured delays in the sentencing of a number of contractors who pleaded guilty in the probe.

"They're still investigating and pursuing Fischer (Homes)," said Michael Bouldin, an attorney for one of the contractors.

In May, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided several Fischer Homes building sites, rounding up nearly 100 people. Most were illegal immigrants from Mexico or Central America, but at least a dozen were contractors who provided workers for the construction of the homes.

Also arrested were four supervisors from Fischer Homes. A fifth supervisor was subsequently indicted, but the charges against all five were eventually dropped after the key witnesses against them fled the country. The company has not been charged, and its officials deny they knew of any illegal immigrants working for it.

Fischer attorneys declined comment Wednesday.

But Bouldin said federal investigators continue to look for Nelson Trejo, who jumped bail and is believed to have fled to his native Mexico. They also are pressing the contractors for information that could lead to successful prosecutions against Fischer or individual employees, he said.

Bouldin said his client, Jacqueline Pratt-Medina, is fully cooperating.

"She wants to make sure she can do anything she can to assist the prosecution," Bouldin said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob McBride, the prosecutor overseeing the cases, could not be reached for comment. He has routinely declined to comment on the cases in the past.

But in documents filed recently in U.S. District Court in Covington, McBride asked U.S. District Judge David Bunning to delay sentences for Pratt-Medina, Robert Pratt, Alfredo Medina-Mejia, Luciano Salazar, Howard Pratt, Josefino Moreno, Jose Trejo-Soto, Leopoldo Medina and Hugo Garcia.

The all were scheduled to be sentenced either Friday or next week. Bunning delayed all those sentencings until May 15.

Thomas Goeke, who represents Salazar and Trejo-Soto, said any delay could be good news for the contractors. He declined to specifically talk about his clients, but said all the contractors reached plea agreements calling for their continued cooperation with investigators.

"A lot of (them) have been released on bond, and they are continuing to cooperate with the prosecutors," he said. "That cooperation could warrant a further reduction in sentence when they are ultimately sentenced."

Bouldin said full cooperation could mean the difference between a mandatory jail sentence of several years and the possibility of probation.

In court documents, McBride said the defendants continue to work with prosecutors.

"The defendant has entered into a cooperative plea agreement with the United States," McBride said in the motions dealing with Bouldin's client, Pratt-Medina.

"Under the terms of that agreement, the United States may make a motion for downward departure upon the defendant rendering substantial assistance. Continuing the sentencing hearing for the period of time requested would allow the defendant to fully exercise her opportunities to obtain substantial assistance."

That same language was used to seek delays in the other cases.

Pratt-Medina is the daughter of Robert Pratt, who authorities have said was the key link between the contractors and Fisher Homes.

In August, Pratt pleaded guilty to a single count of harboring illegal immigrants, admitting that he and other family members operated a number of companies that provided undocumented immigrant workers to Fisher Homes.

He also admitted that he leased apartments for the immigrants.

Pratt is under home arrest in Franklin, Tenn. The remaining contractors are free on bond, and most of them are living and working in Northern Kentucky, Bouldin said.

[Hawkeye]

I say throw the book at all of them. The government doesn't need their help. It's going to make further investigation easier but they can get along without it.