http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hea ... 57255.html

Feb. 13, 2006, 11:30PM

Contract janitors under scrutiny in Brazoria County
Feds investigate reports that fake Social Security data was issued
By RICHARD STEWART
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

ANGLETON - Federal immigration officials are investigating a Brazoria County report that eight of 14 contract janitorial workers at county buildings were using false Social Security numbers.

Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne said Monday that routine background checks conducted by her office showed the workers were using Social Security numbers that had either never been issued, had been issued to people who are now dead or were issued to other people.

One worker used a number that it appears 23 people are using, said Bill Logan, the county's facilities manager.

The check showed that in one case a worker was using a legal and proper number, but that number was also being used by somebody else in New York state, Logan said.

"We were surprised that there were so many," Logan said.

Yenne sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff saying that it appears Sterling Building Specialists, a Houston contractor, "may be hiring inordinate amounts of undocumented workers and not following appropriate procedures regarding employment screening."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Luisa Aquino Deason said Monday that Homeland Security officers from Galveston are conducting an ongoing investigation of Brazoria County's findings.

She said a company that doesn't take measures to make sure it isn't hiring undocumented workers can be fined.

Logan said Sterling dismissed the workers found to be using false Social Security numbers, but had so much trouble getting other workers that the company withdrew its contract with the county last week.

Five of the dismissed workers lived in Clute, three in Angleton, according to county records.

Sterling had contracted to clean all county offices since 2002 and has been paid more than $400,000, Logan said.

Calls by the Chronicle to the Houston company were not returned.

The county Commissioners Court is expected to approve a new contract today with a Clute company that also had submitted a bid, Logan said.

He said that company is providing janitorial workers on an emergency basis until then.

Yenne quipped that "we're all taking turns cleaning up around here. Thursday is my day to take out the trash."

richard.stewart@chron.com