Illegals hired at Senor Pancho's
By Michael P. Mayko

Updated: 06/30/2009 04:25:27 PM EDT




The owner of Senor Pancho's, a popular Mexican restaurant with locations in Monroe, Southbury, Prospect and Litchfield, admitted in federal court Tuesday that his chain employed at least 10 illegal aliens in the past year.

Andrew Adames, 43, of 41 Punkup Road, Oxford, waived his right to a grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty to unlawful employment of aliens during proceedings before Senior U.S. District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in the New Haven federal courthouse. Adames was released on bond pending a Sept. 18 sentencing.

While the offense carries a maximum five year prison term, Adames, who has no criminal record, only faces up to six months in jail based on a preliminary calculation of his federal sentencing guidelines. He did agree to forfeit $150,000 to the government payable in three $50,000 installments.

Adames admitted he employed at least 10 illegal aliens in his restaurants between January, 2008 and January, 2009. None of the 10 were charged federally with entering the country illegally.

Adames is represented by Diane Polan, a New Haven lawyer.

His restaurants bill themselves as "a little Tex...a lot of Mex." The Monroe site is located on 262 Main Street on Route 25.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires employers to hire only American citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. Employers must verify eligibility of any persons hired after November 6, 1986 by completing an

Employment Eligibility Verification form. The employer is required to examine the documentation provided by the individual that establishes his or her identity and employment eligibility to ensure that the documents appear to be genuine and relate to the individual. The employer must retain the verification form for three years after the person is hired or one year after the employee leaves the job.

Often illegal aliens use counterfeit Social Security or identification cards in securing employment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Morabito prosecuted the case which was investigated by agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General.


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