Thread: Calif. company charged after immigration raid

Calif. company charged after immigration raid

By AMY TAXIN
Associated Press
Last modified: 2012-09-05T20:09:53Z
Published: Wednesday, Sep. 5, 2012 - 12:44 pm
Last Modified: Wednesday, Sep. 5, 2012 - 1:09 pm

LOS ANGELES -- A California printer supply manufacturer raided by federal authorities four years ago has agreed to plead guilty to employing illegal immigrants and pay $267,000 in fines.

Wazana Brothers International - also known as Micro Solutions Enterprises - has reached a proposed deal with federal prosecutors that includes three years probation and a compliance program for employing 55 illegal immigrants, court papers show. Company president Yoel Wazana will plead guilty to aiding and abetting the false representation of a Social Security number by a worker.

Company representatives are slated to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon. The deal still must be approved by a judge.

The charges come four years after federal immigration agents raided the Van Nuys company and arrested about 130 workers on suspicion of being in the country illegally. Eight workers were criminally charged at the time - but charges against the company and its president were filed just last month.

"We have identified and successfully targeted those responsible for employing an illegal workforce," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's homeland security investigations in Los Angeles. "That's the way we will deter companies and individuals running the companies from engaging in that behavior."

Wazana attorney Peter Schey said the company acknowledges its negligence five years ago when it disregarded some workers' immigration status and is committed to full compliance with the law.

"These errors were corrected long ago and changes in procedures will preclude them from happening again," Schey said.

Calif. company charged after immigration raid - AP State Wire News - The Sacramento Bee

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is what is needed all across the USA!!!!!

While this is certainly encouraging, to be truly effective, E-verify must be used for every sized company. The residential construction industry was a major contributor the the illegal alien invasion, and illegals continue to dominate this industry. Many of these businesses have less than 15 employees and unfortunately are not a focus for ICE investigators.

Good to see ICE is allowed to do their job somewhere and in CA of all places where there is more work for them than they could ever handle.

It's worth noting this raid happened four years ago. Definitely not something we can expect to see while Obama is in office.

New Jersey firm fined more than $600,000 for hiring illegal aliens
Aug 8, 2012 ... New Jersey firm fined more than $600,000 for hiring illegal aliens. NEWARK, N.J. – Following an investigation and audit of Form I-9 documents ...
New Jersey firm fined more than $600,000 for hiring illegal aliens

Abercrombie and Fitch fined after I-9 audit Sep 28, 2010 ... Abercrombie and Fitch fined after I-9 audit. DETROIT - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Homeland Security ... Abercrombie and Fitch fined after I-9 audit

　

ICE fines New England companies hiring unlawful employees Jul 21, 2011 ... Nationally, from fiscal year 2009 to date, ICE has initiated Form I-9 inspections against nearly 4,000 businesses resulting in fines of nearly $7 million ... ICE fines New England companies hiring unlawful employees

　

Dayton-area restaurant fined after I-9 audit Jan 19, 2012 ... Dayton-area restaurant fined after I-9 audit. Dayton, Ohio – Following an investigation and audit of Form I-9 documents by U.S. Immigration and ... Dayton-area restaurant fined after I-9 audit

　

Krispy Kreme fined after I-9 audit Jul 7, 2009 ... Krispy Kreme fined after I-9 audit. CINCINNATI - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Butler County Sheriff's Office ... Krispy Kreme fined after I-9 audit

　

Wash. herb grower fined $1 million for knowingly employing illegal ... May 1, 2012 ... "In the midst of an I-9 administrative audit, HerbCo hired and ... were ordered to pay nearly $10.5 million in civil fines for hiring violations. Wash. herb grower fined $1 million for knowingly employing illegal aliens

May 1, 2012

　
Last fiscal year, employers nationwide were ordered to pay nearly $10.5 million in civil fines for hiring violations. In addition, criminal charges were filed against a record-breaking 221 owners, employers, managers and/or supervisors – up from 196 in fiscal year 2010.

@ Wash. herb grower fined $1 million for knowingly employing illegal aliens

I.C.E.News Release

September 5, 2012
Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles manufacturing company and its owner criminally charged in HSI probe targeting hiring violations

LOS ANGELES – Federal criminal charges have been filed against a Van Nuys manufacturing company and one of its owners for hiring unauthorized alien workers and repeatedly taking steps to cover up the illegal hiring in an effort to retain the workers.

Yoel A. Wazana, 38, owner and production manager of Wazana Brothers International, Inc., which does business under the name Micro Solutions Enterprises (MSE), is scheduled to make his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court.

In a plea agreement filed Wednesday, Wazana agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of false representation of a Social Security number. Wazana admits in the plea agreement that he caused two employees to use the Social Security numbers of relatives in order to remain in the firm's employ after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into the company's compliance with federal hiring laws.

MSE has agreed to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of continuing employment of unauthorized aliens. In a plea agreement filed last month, the firm admits hiring approximately 55 unauthorized workers, and then continuing to employ them after the ICE audit had begun. The company admits that it knew, or deliberately avoided knowledge of the fact, that the individuals were not authorized to work in the United States.

The company's plea agreement represents a global settlement of criminal and civil charges against the firm. Under the terms of the plea agreement negotiated by ICE and the United States Attorney's Office, MSE agreed to pay approximately $267,000 in civil and criminal fines.

Beyond the monetary sanctions, the plea agreement calls for the company to be on probation for three years, during which time it will implement a series of stringent measures to ensure it is complying with the nation's hiring laws. Those steps include retaining an independent compliance monitor to oversee the completion and maintenance of the firm's hiring records, and providing training to employees regarding federal hiring laws.

The plea agreement takes into account the company's willingness to take responsibility for its prior criminal conduct and to implement a rigorous program to ensure full compliance with federal hiring laws in the future.

"ICE is committed to holding businesses accountable when they knowingly hire or retain illegal workers," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of HSI Los Angeles. "Employers who willfully violate our nation's hiring laws gain an unfair economic advantage over their law abiding competitors. Our goal is to protect job opportunities for the nation's legal workers and level the playing field for those businesses that play by the rules."

The charges against Wazana and his company are the result of an investigation into MSE's hiring practices that was initiated by HSI in 2007. According to court documents, shortly after MSE received notification in April 2007 that HSI planned to audit the company's payroll and hiring records, Wazana directed that about 80 of MSE's most experienced employees – at least 53 of whom did not have work authorization – be relocated to another manufacturing facility. When investigators requested hiring records from MSE on three separate occasions, the company failed to provide paperwork for those unauthorized workers.

The plea agreements filed in this case also describe how, after learning of the ICE audit, Wazana conducted meetings with MSE's assembly line workers, instructing them to obtain valid work authorization documents and return with those documents, suggesting that he did not care if the documents were actually theirs.

In February 2008, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at MSE's Van Nuys plant. During the enforcement operation, special agents arrested eight current and former company workers on criminal charges and another 130 employees on administrative immigration violations.

The felony charge of false representation of a Social Security number carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In 2009, HSI implemented a new, comprehensive strategy to reduce th
e demand for illegal employment and protect employment opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce. Under this strategy, HSI is focusing its resources on the auditing and investigation of employers suspected of cultivating illegal workplaces by knowingly employing illegal workers.

In the last year, HSI has levied a record number of civil and criminal penalties against employers who violate immigration laws.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

Los Angeles manufacturing company and its owner criminally charged in HSI probe targeting hiring violations

Using round numbers, 10 million in fines against 200 employers is only a 50.000 fime on average. Did I miss something, JohnDoe2, or wrongly assume something. Fimes should average in my oninion no less than ...., well, they are not enough unlless they come close to causing bankruptcy. These employers ae cheating on the laws and cheating o their competition. If they will go that far they will cheat on taxes and they would cheat you or I.

Originally Posted by kevinssdad

Using round numbers, 10 million in fines against 200 employers is only a 50.000 fime on average. Did I miss something, JohnDoe2, or wrongly assume something. Fimes should average in my oninion no less than ...., well, they are not enough unlless they come close to causing bankruptcy. These employers ae cheating on the laws and cheating o their competition. If they will go that far they will cheat on taxes and they would cheat you or I.

Like this? (I think they take as much money as they can without putting the company out of business and costing other employees to loose their jobs and cities, counties, states and the feds to loose the taxes that the company generates)

Wash. herb grower fined $1 million for knowingly employing illegal aliens
=======================

ICE Fines Company $2 Million for Hiring Illegal Aliens
http://www.alipac.us/f12/ice-fines-c...aliens-256237/

　
2 companies admit to hiring illegal aliens, each forfeit $2 million
2 companies admit to hiring illegal aliens, each forfeit $2 million
http://www.alipac.us/f12/companies-p...7/#post1253980

　
15 Years and $3.66 Million fine for hiring llegal aliens
　
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1110/111027elpaso.htm

I.C.E. News Release
October 27, 2011
El Paso, TX

El Paso hotel owner sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for smuggling and harboring illegal aliens, money laundering and income tax fraud

Forfeiture and restitution judgments total more than $3.66 million

El Paso hotel owner sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for smuggling and harboring illegal aliens, money laundering and income tax fraud
　
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-253797.html

==========================
　
Businessman Fined $475K For Hiring Illegal Workers
September 02, 2011
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-249062.html

　
$2.7 MILLION fine for hiring illegal aliens
Michigan dairy farmers plead guilty to employing illegal aliens, fined $2.7 million
June 28, 2011
Michigan dairy farmers plead guilty to employing illegal aliens, fined $2.7 million
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-242026.html

　
Abercrombie & Fitch fined $1,047,110. after I-9 audit
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1009/100928detroit.htm
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-213788.html

====================

Border Fence Firm Snared for Hiring Illegal Workers
(Fined $5 million)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=6626823
http://www.alipac.us/f12/border-fenc...workers-45075/

　
Pilgrim's Pride to pay $4.5 million for hiring illegal aliens
December 30, 2009
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0912/091230beaumont.htm
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-183357.html

　
RCI Inc. officers forfiet $1.5 million for hiring illegal aliens
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsrelea...randrapids.htm
　
.htm

McDonald's franchisesee fined $1 MILLION for hiring illegal aliens
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0807/080716washington.htm
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php? name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=123719&postdays=0&pos torder=asc&highlight=mcdonalds&start=0

Cincinnati firm fined $536,046 for hiring illegal aliens
Cincinnati firm fined at conclusion of worksite investigation
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1002/100212cincinnati.htm
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-188146.html

2 companies admit to hiring illegal aliens, each forfeit $2 million
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1201/120124houston.htm
http://www.alipac.us/f12/companies-p...7/#post1253980
==================================
Owner of Annapolis Painting Services sentenced for money laundering and hiring illegal aliens
Owner also ordered to forfeit property worth more than $1 million
　
　
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0909/090904baltimore.htm

McDonald's franchisesee fined $1 MILLION for hiring illegal alien
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0807/080716washington.htm

Pilgrim's Pride to pay $4.5 million for hiring illegal aliens
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0912/091230beaumont.htm
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-183357.html
　
　
===================================
　

Owner of Annapolis Painting Services sentenced for money laundering and hiring illegal aliens
Owner also ordered to forfeit property worth more than $1 million
　
　
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0909/090904baltimore.htm