Trial delayed in Howard Industries illegal immigration case
September 29, 2009


JACKSON — A trial related to the nation's largest workplace raid on illegal immigrants has been postponed until January.



Jose Humberto Gonzalez is accused of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, some with stolen identities, to work at Howard Industries in Laurel. The plant was raided Aug. 25, 2008. Nearly 600 suspected illegal immigrants were detained.

Gonzalez was first indicted in May on conspiracy and employee fraud charges. A new indictment was issued Sept. 16 and included charges of aggravated identity theft.


Gonzalez asked for a continuance of the Oct. 19 trial date to prepare against the new charges. The trial is now set for Jan. 11 in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.

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