Thread: PA-Illegal immigrants working for GPX Survey in Williamsport

Williamsport Police were called to a location this morning for a report of a possible crime.

What they ended up finding were two apartment buildings with suspected illegal immigrants all working for a surveyor with the natural gas industry.

That company, GPX Surveys of Texas, has an office in downtown Williamsport.

Police said they were called to investigate a report of someone luring a child into a truck at apartments near that office and soon realized a group of 16 suspected illegal immigrants lived there and worked for GPX.

It all started when cops in Williamsport responded to the 300 block of Elmira Street late Thursday. A man was accused of luring a young girl into his truck which had Texas plates.

During the investigation, police were led around the corner to West Third Street and to apartments leased by GPX Surveying of Texas.

So few of the people spoke English and police say they could not provide proper forms of identification.

"We determined we had a whole group of illegal immigrants here in the city of Williamsport," said Williamsport Police Captain Raymond Kontz.

So police contacted federal immigration officials who ended up taking 16 people into custody.

One of the men, Adrian Castro, is behind bars facing charges in relation to the child luring investigation.

Investigators said two more men were wanted for immediate deportation and city officials said they are more and more concerned with the people they are dealing with.

"No mas, we're not going to tolerate it, follow the law, period," said Williamsport Mayor Gabe Campana.

Some said the natural gas boom is bringing money to the area and providing jobs but this was not what they had in mind.

"Let's give the people here jobs, keep the income here if we can," said Jean Roan of Roaring Branch.

"It makes me feel bad, there are so many people that need jobs in Pennsylvania. And this is a boom for Pennsylvania, so we really need to employ our local people," added Diane Cosgrove of LaPorte.

Police believe GPX's local workforce has been depleted.

The company has not returned our request for comment, and the phone number listed in Texas has been disconnected.

http://www.wnep.com/topic/wnep-lyc-susp ... 8651.story

Video of news- http://www.wnep.com/topic/wnep-lyc-ille ... 4863.story

EXCELLENT!!!

"No mas, we're not going to tolerate it, follow the law, period," said Williamsport Mayor Gabe Campana.

I guess he didn't get BO's ICE Policy Memorandum.

COMPANIES are purposely NOT hiring American workers in favor of hiring legal and illegal immigrants.

good news for Pa. Get the citizens back to work and deport law breakers and fine and imprison the employers of these illegals

Codes to shut down office that hired illegal aliens

June 28, 2011

By MARK MARONEY

An apartment building used as an office for a natural gas company employing illegal Mexicans will be shut down by the city, officials confirmed Monday.

The building at 341 W. Third St., formerly offices for GPX Surveys of Texas Inc., will be closed.

"We're shutting them down today," said Joseph Gerardi, city codes administrator.

Gerardi said he spoke with the owner of the building, Enrique Castillo, 31, of 309 Elmira St. Castillo owns Castle of Castillo Apartments and Castillo Apartments.

"The gas company did not have a permit to operate inside the building as a business," Gerardi said. Castillo also could be cited if there were violations of the occupancy permit in apartments he leased to the gas company for the Mexicans, Gerardi said.

The gas company declined comment.

Fines can range from $100 to $1,000 for violation of overcrowding rules and that can impact anyone in the building. If the gas company pleads guilty, the city will ask for the maximum fine.

Until this time, Castillo always has operated without problems, Gerardi said. The city tax collector's office confirmed he paid real estate taxes.

"We've had no prior issues with him," Gerardi said of the landlord. "Maybe he got the wool pulled over his eyes."

Castillo said he hadn't a clue the gas company was allowing Mexican illegals to work there.

Gerardi said that may be true, but landlords should be obligated to check on their properties. The gas company has been leasing for two to three months, he said. "That's plenty of time to see whether the properties you own have an office in them."

"We need the public to keep its eyes and ears open," Gerardi said. "If they see seven or eight guys getting out of a pickup truck and going into apartments, let us know."

The codes department has five officials, including Gerardi, issuing 1,500 rental permits annually.

Without saying it was understaffed, Gerardi said the pressure is on, now that employees with the gas industry are here and renting apartments.

City Mayor Gabriel J. Campana said he will not allow businesses, including those in the gas industry, operating offices in residential structures without getting the proper permits.

www.sungazette.com