Thread: COMPANY FINED $19.6 MILLION!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3976223.html

WesternGeco agrees to $19.6 million fraud fine

By LYNN J. COOK
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

A Houston-based subsidiary of Schlumberger, the world's largest oilfield services company, has agreed to pay $19.6 million in penalties for "knowingly submitting fraudulent visa applications" for foreign workers assigned to vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a statement from the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

The announcement said the Justice department uncovered 421 instances of visa fraud perpetrated by WesternGeco, a seismic imaging company, between January 2000 and the end of 2004.

The company filed fraudulent applications for U.S. visas and made false statements to U.S. consular officers regarding the nature and destination of many of its foreign workers, according to a written statement from the Justice Dept.

WesternGeco began to correct those illegal practices in 2005, the statement says.

The U.S. Attorney's Office stated it has agreed to defer criminal prosecution of WesternGeco for a year provided the company continues to operate within the bounds of the laws governing foreign workers and cooperate with the Southern District of Texas' investigation.

ljcook@chron.com

The U.S. Attorney's Office stated it has agreed to defer criminal prosecution of WesternGeco for a year provided the company continues to operate within the bounds of the laws governing foreign workers and cooperate with the Southern District of Texas' investigation.

The high dollar fine is great, but an example needs to be set. People should be doing prison time over this scandal. I find this disgusting!

Why aren't the criminals being prosecuted? What is happening to this country?

Don't be so dreary, MW! This is great! I've seen more action in the past two months than I have in the past ten years! We are winning this thing

Don't be so dreary, MW! This is great! I've seen more action in the past two months than I have in the past ten years! We are winning this thing.

I agree to an extent, but are we sure this isn't all show. I've yet to see the any real bite. By "real bite" I mean prosecution of numbers of employers and serious interior enforcement. Sure they're going after hardened criminals, but they don't seem to be going after your "everyday version" illegal - those, for the most part, are still be ignored. Oh well, I guess Rome wasn't built in a day.

YEEHAW! about time someone had to pay the big one. Hope the other idiots are paying attention...awesome news!

Mohawk Industries and all other Big Business are put on Notice!
19.6M is a tidy sum

Interesting - but I would bet NONE of these folks are Mexicans. That company would require educated folks with engineering and geology backgrounds.


What about illegals Mexicans and their employers???


Smoke and Mirrors.

Progress

That is the biggest fine I have ever seen for doing that. At least somebody is doing something even if it is one employer for now, that means there will be more. That is the best place to hit corporations in the pocket.

Since I have been past their gigantic complex near Beltway 8 and the 104xx block of Harwin Drive in SW Houston dozens of times, it made a personal impression on me. I took the liberty to post all of the pertinent information on wehirealiens.com. I then took time to CALL THE NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION DIRECTOR:

Region Manager
Name: Maurice Nessim
Telephone: 1 713 789 9600
Fax: 1 713 789 0172
Location: Houston
Address: WesternGeco
10001 Richmond Avenue
Houston, Texas 77042

I told his secretary that all of the pertinent information has been posted on www.wehirealiens.com, and that he should review the website, and make an apology to the American Citizens that his company betrayed. I called last Friday, at 3:30PM---he was already gone. But you know what? He'll get a nice message first thing Monday morning----what a great way to start the week. And if, per chance, his assistant called him that Friday----he'll have a nice weekend to remember.

So, call that "company" manager---he is responsible---let him know how you feel---get going!