Thread: Drywall company’s employees indicted on immigration charge

Drywall company’s employees indicted on immigration charges
By the Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 - 06:45:20 pm CST

A federal grand jury has indicted one former and two current employees of Tufly Drywall, an Omaha company with a Lincoln division, with conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants and related offenses.

Richard Ridpath, 53, John Jantzon, 38, and Agustin Rios, 33, all of Omaha, were charged in a three-count indictment. All three were managers or supervisors at Tufly Drywall, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for Nebraska. Jantzon is the former employee, according to Tufly Drywall.

They were charged with conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants from 2004 to 2007, while work was performed at the Zorinsky Federal Building in Omaha. Rios was charged with illegally transporting an illegal immigrant. This offense was allegedly committed and carried out during the course of the conspiracy, according to the U.S. attorney’s office, therefore, Ridpath and Jantzon were also charged in that count, as well.

Another count charges that in March and April 2006, Ridpath, Jantzon and Rios encouraged and induced illegal immigrants to reside in the United States.

If convicted, the men face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.

In a related case, Guillermo Barba, also known as Rafael Lopez, was charged in a one-count indictment that alleges from on or before June 26, 2006, he encouraged an illegal immigrant to reside in the U.S. He also faces up to five years and a fine of $250,000.

Donald O. Gatewood, chief executive of Tufly, released a statement that said the company was disappointed by the indictments.

The company will continue to cooperate with the government’s investigation, he said.

Attorney Andy Strotman of Lincoln said his client, Ridpath, would plead not guilty and expects to be exonerated.

Lawyers for the other defendants could not be reached for comment.

http://journalstar.com/articles/2008/03 ... 066014.txt

It's about time! Finally....

I suppose it's too early to hope that there will be other indictments coming for other dry wall companies, landscapers, lawn businesses, restaurants, etc. in the Omaha area....one can only hope....