Former IFCO Managers Plead Guilty to Illegal Alien Conspiracy


By Chaille Brindley
Date Posted: 4/4/2010


Two former IFCO employees recently pleaded guilty in federal court to criminal charges in connection with immigration raids conducted in 2006. William Hoskins, 33, and Tomas Soto Castillo, 56, both of Cincinnati, Ohio pled guilty to a felony conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and to encourage and induce illegal aliens to remain in the United States. Soto Castillo also pled guilty to a felony conspiracy to knowingly hire illegal aliens.

Hoskins and Soto Castillo were former New Market Development managers for the Pallet Management Division of IFCO Systems North America. They pled guilty before Judge Lawrence Kahn in the U.S. District Court for Northern New York. Due to the time limitations before going to press, IFCO could not be reached for comment about the latest guilty pleas by former employees. Hoskins faces a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison while Soto Castillo could be imprisoned for up to five years. Both defendants face the possibility of a fine of up to $250,000.

On January 23, 2009, Hoskins, Soto Castillo and five IFCO executives were indicted by a grand jury in the Northern District of New York for immigration, tax and social security related felony offenses. Five IFCO executives are challenging the criminal charges against them. The trial was set for late April 2010. However, the defendants have requested a change of venue, which could delay the trial.

The five defendants challenging the charges against them are Haskell “Buddyâ€