Thread: Warrant:Worker said park manager aware of ID fraud

Warrant: Worker said park manager aware of ID fraud
JJ Hensley - Jun. 18, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
A former Waterworld worker told Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies that the general manager at the Phoenix water park was well aware that some employees got jobs using fraudulent Social Security numbers, but the manager didn't want to worry about it.

The accusation is outlined in a search warrant released Tuesday, one week after the former worker's charges led to the seizure of employment records from three summer-fun spots that the company operates in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.

The sweeps last week generated a crush of media coverage and led Sheriff Joe Arpaio to declare that the case could lead to the first charges against an Arizona business under the state's employer-sanctions law. .
County Attorney Andrew Thomas tempered that sentiment, saying it would take a while for investigators to determine whether the company intentionally hired illegal workers.

The allegations by the former employee, a facilities manager whose name is redacted from the 20-page search warrant, paint a potentially damning picture for the Valley water-and-amusement park business.

The former manager left the company in January. However, under the state law, Golfland could be found in violation only if it had knowingly hired the employees after Jan. 1.

Golfland representatives released a statement reiterating the company's dedication to following employment laws.

The manager first went to deputies on Feb. 7 claiming to have information that "several employees were using false Social Security numbers to gain employment."

Later that day, an investigator interviewed the former employee, who alleged that on several occasions between October and January he had confronted a general manager with the company about employees who were not eligible to work in the United States.

The general manager reportedly replied, "We're gonna ignore the new law," according to the warrant.

The Legal Arizona Workers Act requires employers to verify the eligibility status of all new employees. State legislators clarified the law this year to reiterate that sanctions apply only to employees hired after Jan. 1 2008.

The former employee provided investigators with the names of employees suspected of using fraudulent paperwork to get employment, and added that managers had instructed employees to run should law enforcement agents show up at one of the parks, according to the warrant.

Deputies arrested 10 people - nine employees of the parent company, Golfland Entertainment Centers, and one other individual - during last week's operation. The arrests included a trio of employees who hopped a fence outside of Waterworld, records show.

Golfland representatives said the company is cooperating with Thomas' investigation.

"Golfland Entertainment Centers is taking the investigation very seriously and is responding appropriately to the County Attorney's requests," the statement read.


We need a conviction and jail time



http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... o0618.html

Oh so the disgruntled illegals and employees are going to start accusing their employers of immigration fraud.

Interesting twist.

Dixie

I wonder how many employee`s received immunity in the plea bargain ?
The employer`s are the ones we are going to have to go after to stop the invasion every conviction of them works for us .

Originally Posted by Dixie

Oh so the disgruntled illegals and employees are going to start accusing their employers of immigration fraud.

Interesting twist.

Dixie

>>ACTION ALERT 6/18<<
It's D-day in NC so lets help the boots on the ground!!
We need calls from those who can not attend the "RALLY IN RALEIGH"
PLEASE TAKE ACTION IN NORTH CAROLINA
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION!
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-119822.html

That Golfland company needs to be flooded with e-mail and calls reminding them how po'ed this makes the public.