Published Friday | March 7, 2008
Three charged in immigrants case

Three supervisors at an Omaha drywall company have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to supply illegal immigrant workers at a Department of Defense job site in Omaha.

The three men worked for Tufly Drywall Inc. during the 2004-2007 construction of the Zorinsky Federal Building. One of the men no longer works for the company.

Donald Gatewood, Tufly's chief executive, said the company was disappointed by the indictments but will continue cooperating with federal authorities.

According to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court:

Workers at the reconstruction site were required to pass a background check, and properly conducted checks would have eliminated people in the country illegally.

The defendants allegedly recruited and employed drywallers with reckless disregard for the fact that their work documents were false. At times, the defendants also allegedly arranged for visitor passes and other means to allow illegal workers on the job site.

One of the managers at times provided transportation and helped workers obtain false documentation.

About 135 Tufly employees worked on the Zorinsky project. At least 24 had provided Social Security numbers that were invalid or belonged to dead people.

By employing the illegal workers, Tufly achieved commercial advantage and financial gain, Nebraska U.S. Attorney Joe Stecher said in the indictment.

The three supervisors were charged with conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants and with encouraging illegal immigrants to reside in the United States.

If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1 ... d=10276720