19 former poultry workers plead guilty to misusing social security numbers

TYLER, Texas (AP) - Nineteen former Pilgrim's Pride poultry workers arrested in a raid targeting illegal immigrants -- pleaded guilty today.

They pleaded guilty in federal court in Tyler to misuse of a Social Security number and were sentenced to time served. All have been turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

The workers were employed by Pittsburg and Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride at its Mount Pleasant plant.

Another former worker arrested earlier in an investigation of Pilgrim's Pride employees also pleaded guilty.

German Yepez-Guzman was sentenced to time served on a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification documents.

Evidence indicated Yepez-Guman was part of a group that sold false identification documents to illegal immigrants.

Federal agents in April raided Pilgrim's Pride units in five states.
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