Thread: 32 Busted In N Ky Immigration Raid

http://wcpo.com/news/2006/local/11/29/ice.html

32 Busted In N Ky Immigration Raid
Police making arrests Wednesday morning
First posted: 11/29/2006 10:58:47 AM
Last updated: 11/29/2006 5:08:17 PM
Tom McKee's 5:30 p.m. report:

32 people have been arrested in Northern Kentucky on suspicion of being undocumented immigrants.

Federal agents say the 32 worked in the commercial drywall business.

Some were arrested here in parking lots adjacent to the Ascent at Roebling project.

Some were arrested in a parking lot at the Home Depot in Florence.

Exactly who they worked for isn't clear, but one-by-one the 32 were processed at the Boone County Sheriff's Department in Burlington, then taken to jail for pending federal court appearances.

19 were arrested in the Home Depot parking lot in Florence as they awaited transportation to a job site.

The rest were detained when their vans were stopped near the Ascent at Roebling construction site in Covington.

"They're not trying to pick up one or two here or there," said Tom Scheben with the Boone County Sheriff's Department. "They're trying to get large numbers and they're trying to get the people who are employing them."

These latest arrests are a concern to union leaders of the skilled trades.

Jim Reid is head of the Greater Cincinnati Building and Construction Trades Council.

"It's getting bigger and bigger in the commercial and industrial field, but residential -- they've almost taken over the residential field," said Reid.

Union leaders like Fred Hubbard of the Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers say undocumented workers often are paid in cash and don't pay taxes on what they earn.

"My contractors can't compete," Hubbard said. "They're paying their guys under the wages; the employers aren't paying any workers compensation insurance, not paying any unemployment insurance."

There have been several immigration busts in the area, but it's an uphill battle, given that there are 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.

Dan Dugan said in a statement the firm has an outstanding reputation, has thorough hiring policies and subcontractors are required not to hire any illegal immigrants.

Spectrum Interiors is doing the drywall work here.

Jean Rosion issued a statement saying, "we do not knowingly employ anyone who is not authorized to work in the united states.

The suspects will be jailed until their first appearance in U.S. District court in Covington.

Corporex, owner of The Ascent at Roebling's Bridge, told 9News that they stand by Dugan and Meyers, the contractor working on the project. Dugan and Meyers is top notch, first class company, said a Corporex representative.



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Update @ 11/29/2006 12:12:37 PM:
It appears the people who were arrested at the Home Depot store in Florence, were headed to work at the Ascent at Roebling's Bridge, said Tom Scheben with the Boone County Sheriff's Department.

"Home Depot was a pickup location where they all got in a van and went to covington," Scheben said. In May, more than 80 illegal immigrants were arrested in Northern Kentucky.

They were working for subcontractors at Fischer Homes sites.

Five Fischer Homes supervisors were charged in connection with the arrests, but those charges were later dismissed because a key witness could not be found.

Federal officials say if that person is found, the charges could be refiled.

Fischer Homes as a corporation was neither implicated or charged in that case.


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Original story posted @ 11/29/2006 10:58:47 AM:
More than 30 suspected illegal immigrants were rounded up Wednesday morning and arrested at two Northern Kentucky construction sites.

Gail Montenegro of ICE, Immigration Control and Enforcement, confirms that the bust is ongoing, with those arrested being taken to the Boone County jail.

Tom Scheben with the Boone County Sheriff's Department says the 32 were in Covington and the Home Depot store in Florence.

This is the first major immigration-related law enforcement activity in the Tri-state since May, when more than 80 illegal immigrants were arrested.

The people arrested in May were working for subcontractors at Fischer Homes construction sites.

Added to Homepage

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1720

Dan Dugan said in a statement the firm has an outstanding reputation, has thorough hiring policies and subcontractors are required not to hire any illegal immigrants.

Company Faces Sentence for Hiring Illegals

Last Update: 7/21 8:25 am


Agents on the scene of a bust of illegal workers in November, 2006. The company involved will be sentenced today. (WKRC-TV) Sentencing is scheduled today for the owners of a local company involved in using illegal workers.

Spectrum Interiors of Erlanger was busted when 32 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested in Florence and Covington back in November of 2006. Spectrum was a contractor on the new Ascent building.

Former Covington City Council member Jeff Wolnitzek is one of the top officials that will be sentenced today. Each faces possible jail time and up to a $2-million in fines for hiring, harboring and shielding illegal workers.

Sentencing is set for this afternoon at the U.S. District Courthouse in Covington. Local 12 will have a crew there and we'll let you know what happens.

The suspected illegal workers who were detained that day were sentenced to time served.

www.local12.com

Wolnitzek Sentenced In Kentucky Immigration Case

Reported by: Tom McKee
Web produced by: Kerry Duke

Jeffrey Wolnitzek will spend eight months in federal prison and his company must pay a $2 million fine for using undocumented workers in its commercial drywall business in violation of federal immigration laws.

U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning sentenced Wolnitzek, the sole director of Spectrum Interiors Inc. of Erlanger, on Monday for "knowingly conspiring to use undocumented workers for commercial advantage."

Wolnitzek had little to say at his sentencing.

"I accept responsibility for my actions. I'm very sorry it happened," Wolnitzek told the court in Covington.

Wolnitzek's Spectrum Interiors was ordered to pay $2 million in fines with $500,000 of that amount due immediately.

Wolnitzek and his company admitted in plea agreement reached in November to violating federal immigration laws from 2002 through 2006.

The case began on Nov. 29, 2006, when 31 men and women believed to be undocumented workers were arrested in Northern Kentucky.

Some were apprehended near The Home Depot in Florence and others were detained in the vicinity of The Ascent at Roebling Bridge construction site in Covington.

Kentucky Post

http://www.kypost.com/news/local/story. ... 0da9179b25

Originally Posted by Buzzm1

Wolnitzek Sentenced In Kentucky Immigration Case
http://www.kypost.com/news/local/story. ... 0da9179b25

It's about time! This should be done in every city in every state!

Former Covington City Council member Jeff Wolnitzek is one of the top officials that will be sentenced today. Each faces possible jail time and up to a $2-million in fines for hiring, harboring and shielding illegal workers.




And going after so called big shots too!!! Now THAT'S how a strong message is sent........when the big fish aren't being let off the hook, the smaller ones begin to realize that they don't stand a chance!!

These latest arrests are a concern to union leaders of the skilled trades.

Jim Reid is head of the Greater Cincinnati Building and Construction Trades Council.

"It's getting bigger and bigger in the commercial and industrial field, but residential -- they've almost taken over the residential field," said Reid.

Union or Not , Finally somebody gets it . Yeah they work cheap , do a lousy job and pay no taxs . Plus the Attitude , they think "They" own "Our" country .

This is great But McDonald's got off pretty easy last week didn't it? Consider the difference in size and worth of these companies.

Originally Posted by cvangel

This is great But McDonald's got off pretty easy last week didn't it? Consider the difference in size and worth of these companies.

Maybe Northern Kentucky is more concerned about the safety of their citizens than other areas including Lexington, KY considering they signed off on renting to ILLEGALS!

Heavy Fines and Felony Jail Time for ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS!!! Remember the ILLEGAL EMPLOYER Robert Camp in Houston and the murder of the Police Officer by his ILLEGAL EMPLOYEE!!!!!