Thread: Honey Creek IA woman pleads guilty to hiring illegal workers

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp?news ... d=2703&amp

Honey Creek woman pleads guilty to hiring illegal workers
01/13/2007

HONEY CREEK - A Honey Creek woman has pleaded guilty to immigration violations after a search warrant revealed she knowingly hired several illegal aliens to work for a fabrication company where she also worked.

Donna Lake, human resources director at Plastrglas Inc. in Omaha, pleaded guilty to "engaging in a pattern and practice of hiring and recruiting unauthorized aliens for employment in the United States" on Friday.

According to a news release issued by the United States Attorney's Office, in October 2006 Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Omaha received a tip from a confidential informant that Plastrglas Inc., located at 4200 N. 30th St. and 3123 Spaulding St. in Omaha, was involved in the hiring and employment of undocumented workers.

On Nov. 15, 2006, ICE agents placed a recording device on another confidential informant and sent the person to speak to Lake regarding his status. The informant was given a letter to show Lake stating that the Social Security Administration had determined his current social security number was not valid, according to the news release.

The informant then asked Lake to change his SSN in company records.

Lake refused, according to the release, citing that the law wouldn't allow the number to be changed. Lake did question why the informant didn't obtain a "real" SSN. She also asked if the informant was "afraid of going to immigration and whether he was afraid that they would kick him out of the country."

"Lake then stated she would pretend that their conversation never happened," according to the release.

On Dec. 5, 2006, search warrants were executed at both Plastrglas Inc. locations. ICE agents arrested 30 undocumented workers and transported them to a detention center.

Evidence seized in the search included a Social Security Administration letter sent to Lake, listing 26 SSNs of employees whose names and SSNs did not match current records.

Further review of records obtained by ICE officials confirmed several Plastrglas Inc. employees' names and SSNs had changed over the years to allow them to continue working. Some violations dated back to 1999, according to the release.

Lake's sentencing date is set for March 30. Engaging in a pattern and practice of hiring and recruiting unauthorized aliens for employment in the United States carries a possible penalty of up to six months in prison, a $3,000 fine per unauthorized alien, a $50 special assessment and up to five years probation.

Lake could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Plastrglas Inc. entered a guilty plea to concealing, harboring or shielding from detection aliens knowing, or in reckless disregard of the fact, that the aliens had entered or remained in the United States in violation of the law. The charge carries up to a $500,000 fine and a $400 special assessment fee.

Where's the jail time

Only six months?

Originally Posted by jp_48504

Only six months?

She'll pull the "possible 6 months" like she'll pay the $90,000 in fines. She might do five years probation.