Local Company Busted for Hiring Illegals

St. LOUIS,Mo. (KMOX) - J&J Industrial Supply, Inc of St. Louis has entered a guilty plea to employing illegal aliens. The U.S. States Attorney’s Office announced as part of the plea, the company agrees to forfeit $150,000 and a 2011 Toyota Highlander used in facilitating the illegal activity.

According to investigators, since 2008, J & J utilized illegal aliens unauthorized to supplement its legal workforce. During a 12 month period, the company employed 10 or more illegal aliens, and by utilizing these aliens realized proceeds of approximately $150,000 during the time of the offense. On September 27, 2011 the owner of the company, Jerry McArthur, drove five of his illegal alien employees in his 2011 Toyota Highlander to the Mexican Consulate in Kansas City to obtain Mexican Consular identification cards, so that the employees would have some sort of identification documents in case they came in contact with law enforcement officers. The vehicle was stopped for speeding in St. Charles County on its return journey and was seized because it facilitated the illegal employment.

J & J Industrial Supply, also known as Industrial Wiping Cloths & Supplies, is a business that resells used clothing in bulk quantities to overseas purchasers, and produces cleaning rags for domestic customers. It is a labor intensive business that primarily involves hand sorting and cutting of used clothing. The business retains approximately 40 employees.

Sentencing has been set for January 17, 2012.

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