Thread: Cases continue against 20, Hamilton Ohio

Cases continue against 20 arrested in immigration raid

http://www.middletownjournal.com


All but three are scheduled to be back in court next week to enter pleas or for a trial setting.

By Lauren Pack

Staff Writer

Saturday, September 15, 2007

HAMILTON — Most of the

20 alleged illegal immigrants arrested last month in a raid on Koch Foods in Fairfield were brought into various Butler County Common Pleas courtrooms last week for a second round of arraignments on the criminal charges they face.


the 12 men and eight women who are charged with forgery and identity fraud were indicted by a Butler County grand jury on Sept. 7 before scheduled preliminary hearings took place in Fairfield Municipal Court.

All but three are scheduled to be back in court next week to enter pleas or for a trial setting, according to court documents. The three defendants before Judge Patricia Oney are to be arraigned Monday morning.

Dan Ferguson, the assistant

county prosecutor assigned to the cases, said he expects many to be resolved in the next few weeks. Then the federal government will get its chance to deport the suspects, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

A total of 161 people were taken into custody Aug. 28 at the Fairfield chicken-processing plant. All face deportation, but only the 20 now housed in Butler County jail face local criminal charges.

According to the local indictments, the alleged crimes committed by the 20 occurred in various years dating as far back as 2005 — beginning when the defendants began working for Koch Foods.

"They were working using a Social Security number belonging to another," Ferguson said. He said the cards were manufactured, likely in area residences, then bought by the defendants for $120 to $130. In the past few months, there have been several area arrests of ID forgers.

ICE and federal law enforcement officials say the investigation into Koch Foods is ongoing. Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said he's not ruling out more charges. Jones said any charges against Koch, if they happened, would come at the federal level.

Ferguson also pointed to the federal investigation for additional charges. "It was their investigation. It was their search warrant. We didn't go inside the plant and we don't have the evidence. All we have is what came from questioning in West Chester where they were processed," Ferguson said.

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