Nearly 70 enter guilty pleas; deals may include cooperation in future ICE actions
The Des Moines Register • May 19, 2008

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Waterloo, Ia. — Nearly 70 workers arrested in last week’s Postville meatpacking raid pleaded guilty Monday to a less severe fraud charge in exchange for a 5-month jail sentence followed by an immediate plane ride out of the U.S.

The deal also opens the possibility that many of the workers could testify against their employer, Agriprocessors, Inc., should charges against managers arise. At least 20 more hearings were scheduled later Monday evening, after press time, to confirm similar plea bargains in U.S. District Court.


In exchange, prosecutors dropped more serious identity-theft charges which would have carried a mandatory 2-year minimum prison sentence.

“I know you came to this country to work hard and support your families,â€