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Family sentenced for forced labor
Friday, May 27, 2005 Updated:10:30:02 AM CDT

MISSION -- A Mission family will serve time for forcing labor on as many as 50 migrant farm workers.

MISSION – A Mission family will serve hard time for abusing their farm workers.

Maria Garcia and her family of farm labor contractors were accused of recruiting undocumented Mexicans to western New York farms.They were forced to work in slave-like conditions, prosecutors said.

As many as 50 workers were packed into housing built for no more than 20 people.

Maria Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of forced labor. She was sentenced to 46 months in prison.

Garcia's son, Elias Botello, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor. Botello was sentenced to 37 months.

Another son, Jose J. Garcia, received a 14-month term for alien harboring. The woman's husband, Jose I. Garcia, was given one year of probation on the same charge.