Updated: March 9, 2009 04:26 PM EDT





A Butte man has been sentenced in U.S. Federal Court in Missoula in a case involving the employment of illegal aliens.

Magdaleno Barragan, 45, entered a nolo contendere plea and was sentenced to five years probation and fined $5,000 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch for allegedly employing at least three illegal aliens at his Melaque Mexican restaurants in Belgrade and Butte between January and March 2006. All three were subsequently deported from the United States in early 2007.

According to a news release for the U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Montana, employment records on file with the State of Montana confirm that all three aliens were employed for Barragan both in 2006 before they were deported and in May of 2007.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Glob ... ?S=9973972