Cleaners charged with fraud, tax evasion

Updated: Feb 22, 2007 06:12 PM EST

By ANNE SCHIEBER

GRAND RAPIDS -- Federal authorities cracked down on a nationwide ring to employ illegal immigrants and evade taxes.

At two news conferences Thursday in Grand Rapids and Washington, DC, three top officials of a nationwide cleaning service were charged with fraud and tax evasion of more than $18 million. This was part of an ongoing federal investigation that also netted hundreds of illegal immigrants in 18 states.

US District Attorney Margaret Chiara said, "The three actively took steps to recruit, hire and support illegals all to maximize profit."

The illegal immigrants were working as janitors for Nevada-based Rosenbaum-Cunningham International, Inc., or RCI, a cleaning contractor for businesses.

The workers were swept up early Thursday in 63 locations nationwide, including restaurants such as the House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, ESPN Zone, Planet Hollywood, and others, according to a law enforcement official.

The investigation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, began 20 months ago from concerns about cleaning crews at the Grand Traverse Resort in western Michigan.

Authorities said Grand Traverse Resort and the restaurants were told the contract workers had permission to work in the US, but an investigation revealed fake IDs and Green Cards.

"These people took the extra step to conceal that they had these illegal people in their workforce," said Brian Moskowitz of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Within the last 24 hours, immigration authorities rounded up 203 illegal workers in raids throughout the country who were employed by RCI.

One of the owners turned himself in this morning in Florida. The other two are expected to surrender in Grand Rapids on Friday.


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