Ex-plant manager admits role in immigration scheme

Updated 1:10 pm, Thursday, August 29, 2013

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa slaughterhouse manager is admitting his role in a conspiracy to knowingly employ and harbor immigrants who entered the country illegally.

Hosam Amara, former poultry manager at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, has signed a plea agreement calling for him to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to harbor undocumented immigrants for profit.

The agreement was filed Thursday in advance of a plea hearing Friday at the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids. The charge carries up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors are expected to dismiss 26 other counts against Amara, who fled to Israel after a 2008 immigration raid at the plant led to the arrest of 389 workers.

Amara was extradited earlier this year to face the charges.

Amara's attorney didn't immediately return a message.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Ex-plant-manager-admits-role-in-immigration-scheme-4771983.php