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Man charged with recruiting illegals may make deal

By Paul A. Long
Post staff reporter


A Mexican charged with helping find jobs for his countrymen in the U.S. illegally is negotiating a plea deal that could result in his testifying against another defendant prosecutors say was a key figure in getting undocumented workers employed in Northern Kentucky's home-building industry.

Luciano Salazar-Tovar pleaded guilty Thursday to the misdemeanor charge of being an illegal immigrant, and faces deportation.

But in a separate felony indictment, Salazar-Tovar is charged with working with Robert Pratt, the contractor who authorities say is the link between the hiring of undocumented workers and Fischer Homes.

The indictment says Robert Pratt ran Progressive Builders and Quality Construction, which did work on Fischer Homes sites. Pratt's companies provided money to Salazar-Tovar and others to hire and pay illegal immigrants in cash, according to federal court records.

If convicted, the two men face up to 10 years in prison each.

After Salazar-Tovar pleaded guilty Thursday to the misdemeanor in U.S. District Court in Covington, his attorney, Thomas Goeke, huddled briefly with Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob McBride. Afterward, Goeke said he is attempting to negotiate a plea agreement for his client.

Salazar-Tovar is the first person charged with a felony in the investigation known to be looking for a plea agreement.

McBride declined to comment on the investigations or any potential plea agreements. In previous court documents, however, he has asked that some 20 men who pleaded guilty to being in the United States illegally remain in jail as material witnesses in the case against Pratt.

According to an affidavit filed by James Bellamy, a senior special agent with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the men could have direct knowledge of any ties between Fischer, Pratt and the undocumented workers.

"Initially, Fischer, through Robert Pratt employed undocumented alien(s) to supervise work crews," Bellamy said.

"These employees were later designated by Robert Pratt as 'subcontractors.' These 'subcontractors' used undocumented aliens to work on various construction sites, including Fischer construction sites, although the undocumented alien workers remained under the control of Fischer through Robert Pratt. It is believed, based on financial records, that these 'subcontractors' paid undocumented workers with cash."

Pratt has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and is free on bond.

Fischer Homes and its president, Henry Fischer, have strongly denied any wrongdoing. The company said four of its supervisors charged in a similar but separate indictment also have done nothing wrong.

The two-year investigation broke May 9, when ICE agents swooped down on several Fischer housing sites in Boone County and arrested more than 80 people. Since then, another dozen or so have been arrested or indicted.

Most are Mexicans or Central Americans charged with being in the United States illegally. But others - including Pratt and the four Fischer supervisors - face felony charges of harboring the illegal immigrants by providing them jobs or a place to live.

As of Thursday, 26 men have pleaded guilty to entering and being in the United States illegally. Another 12 are expected to enter similar pleas in court today.