Thread: Smithfield Employees Accused of Identity Theft

Smithfield Employees Accused of Identity Theft, Illegal Immigration By Ed Crump

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?secti ... id=5613129

(08/28/07 -- SMITHFIELD) - Federal authorities say 28 workers from the Smithfield Foods Processing Plant in Bladen County were initially identified not by an immigration investigation, but by a nationwide investigation into identity theft.

I.C.E. agents and local law enforcement swarmed a Robeson County trailer park Tuesday. They were looking for 28 men and women believed to be in the country illegally. The U.S. Attorney in Raleigh said it's especially troubling when illegal immigrants steal the identities of U.S. citizens so they can get work papers.

"A victim that we interviewed was threatened with losing subsidized housing because their income that was being reported by the criminal or the defendant in this case has thrown them over the limit even though their financial, the victim's financial situation, has not improved one bit," Assistant U.S.. Attorney Jim Candelmo said.

Candelmo said not all of the suspects rounded up by I.C.E. agents were just using the stolen IDs to get work. Some of the victims also lost thousands of dollars.

There are rumblings among those trying to organize a union at Smithfield Foods that the feds are using powers of arrest to help quell the labor movement there.

The feds categorically deny the rumors.

"The investigators nor this office made any inquiry of the status of any of these individuals in regards to their participation in labor organizing activities," Candelmo said. "This was just a non-player in this regard. This was an identity theft operation."

Coincidentally, Hollywood stars will join Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, along with hundred of others Wednesday for a protest at the Smithfield Foods shareholders meeting in Williamsburg, Va.

The will try to convince the company to meet with workers and union representatives.

The U.S. Attorney in Raleigh said it's especially troubling when illegal immigrants steal the identities of U.S. citizens so they can get work papers.

And damned if they'll tell who of us who have had their identities stolen! A citizen needs to be notified when this happens. Why it doesn't I don't know.