Illegal workers found in forest
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN


WINHALL -- Five National Forest Service subcontractors were arrested Saturday because they turned out to be undocumented aliens from Mexico.

The Winhall Police Department responded to the National Forest land off of French Hollow Road after receiving reports of suspicious men cutting trees and camping in the area.

Upon reporting to the scene, Officer Mark Heberts of the Winhall Police Department determined that the five men, aged 19-38, were from Mexico.

Heberts called the U.S. Border Control at Swanton and found that the men worked for a private contractor from Tennessee and were doing tree maintenance in the national forest.

Winhall Police Officer Greg Gould said the men were doing tree work in the National Forest though he did not know the name of the Tennessee company that employed the men.

Gould said the men appeared to have been camping there for "more than one night."

The men were brought to the Winhall Police Department and held until agents from U.S. Border Control picked them up.

Law enforcement officers of the National Forest Service also responded and are continuing the investigation.

U.S. National Forest staff were not available to comment on the arrest Sunday.

Troopers from the Vermont State Police also assisted with the arrests.

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