http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-new ... 7486056892

Dec 15, 2006


15 from Neb. raid indicted
OMAHA, Neb. (AFX) - Fifteen people were indicted on suspicion of identify theft in connection with the immigration raid at a meatpacking plant in Grand Island earlier this week.

Interim U.S. Attorney Joe Stecker said Friday the 15 men and women had used someone else's identification to get jobs at Swift & Co.

'We had no evidence they were involved in a ring or any other process,' Stecker said of the 15. 'They simply had obtained, through some means, someone else's identify and used it for employment.'

Most of the suspects faced two-count indictments:

-- 'Using a forged, counterfeited, fraudulently procured or unlawfully obtained Social Security card as evidence of authorized stay and employment in the United States on or about July 15, 2005'; and

-- Aggravated identity theft in connection with the first count.

The maximum penalty on for the first count is 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a $100 special assessment, Stecker said.

The maximum on the second count of identity theft is two years in prison, followed by a year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials rounded up 261 workers at the Grand Island plant on Tuesday.

The raid was part of an investigation of identity theft by workers at Swift plants in Grand Island; Greeley, Colo.; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn. In all, 1,282 Swift workers were detained Tuesday.

No charges were filed against Swift.

Swift's President and Chief Executive Sam Rovit said the company has never knowingly hired illegal workers and does not condone the practice.

Swift uses a government pilot program to confirm whether Social Security numbers are valid. Company officials have raised questions about the program's ability to detect when two people are using the same number.

Stecker said that in each of the 15 indictments, the victim had notified authorities that his or her identification had been stolen.

He said he anticipates more indictments.

Those indicted range in age from 22 to 48.