November 1, 2008
Elmore County couple sentenced, fined for immigration violations

By Don Fletcher
Progress staff writer


A federal judge in MontgomÂ*ery sentenced a Tallassee man and woman to serve three years each on probation and to pay fines and penalties totaling more than $165,000 for violaÂ*tions of federal immigration laws.

The couple was charged with hiring nearly two dozen undocuÂ*mented immigrants to work in a family business and with harÂ*boring, concealing or sheltering the illegal workers.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ordered Octavio TreÂ*jo Patino and his wife, Rhonda Baird, to serve three years each on probation, according to U.S. Attorney Leura G. Canary.

Patino was also ordered to pay a fine of $125,000 and an asÂ*sessment fee of $100, while Baird was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay a criminal penalty of $36,000 and an assessment fee of $10.

The sentences stemmed from an investigation launched in 2006 by the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Office in response to reÂ*ports of "suspicious activity" at the couple's Tallassee home, known locally as "The ComÂ*pound."

Sheriff's investigators, aided by agents of the Alabama BuÂ*reau of Investigation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, deÂ*termined that Patino had built houses for and provided equipÂ*ment and money to several illeÂ*gal aliens "in an effort to hide their presence from law enforceÂ*ment," Canary said.

The joint investigation also led to the discovery that Baird, the owner of Rapid Drywall, emÂ*ployed the illegals to install dryÂ*wall in residential and commerÂ*cial projects across the southeastern United States.

Court documents show that a federal search warrant was exeÂ*cuted on Oct. 12, 2006, at The Compound. Authorities identiÂ*fied 23 illegal aliens and immeÂ*diately initiated deportation acÂ*tion against them.

Patino and Baird were arÂ*rested by federal agents, who also seized several vehicles, an undisclosed amount of cash, several business and personal bank accounts, and homes, land and other property valued at more than $1 million, according to official reports.


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