Thread: New charge in migrant case (Fischer Homes)

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /606160397

Last Updated: 6:32 am | Friday, June 16, 2006
New charge in migrant case
Contractor, sister accused of laundering money
BY JIM HANNAH | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
COVINGTON - A central figure in a federal investigation into the alleged use of illegal immigrants in construction also faces charges of money laundering.

On Wednesday, a federal grand jury meeting in Covington indicted contractor Robert Pratt on nine counts of laundering money and one count of conspiracy.

Pratt, 47, is awaiting trial under house arrest in Franklin, Tenn., and couldn't be reached.

The charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000.

The indictment states Pratt and his sister, Josefina Moreno, also named in the indictment, paid $141,600 to framing crews of illegal immigrants over the last five years.

The checks to pay the crews were drawn on accounts of various companies the pair had incorporated. These companies included Progressive Builders, Pratt Quality Construction and HPF.

The indictment states Progressive Builders was established specifically to provide framing services for new home construction for Fischer Homes of Crestview Hills.

Fischer issued a new statement this week reiterating it does not condone the hiring or use of illegal immigrants. The company said it supports all governmental employment regulations and stands by its hiring procedures.

"The company continues to work diligently with the U.S. Attorney's Office to get the facts quickly for a speedy and just resolution," the statement reads.

Four Fischer employees - Douglas Witt, Timothy Copsy, William Allison and William Ring - have been charged with harboring, or conspiring to harbor, illegal aliens.

A federal indictment states the four supervisors knowingly used illegal immigrants employed by Pratt's companies for the Tree Top subdivision in Hebron and Tara subdivisions in the Plantation Pointe development in Florence.

In May, Pratt, his sister Moreno, son Howard Pratt and daughter Jacqueline Pratt were indicted on charges of harboring illegal aliens or conspiring to harbor illegal aliens.

The indictment states Robert Pratt would also lease apartments in Northern Kentucky for illegal immigrants.

As part of the investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have rounded up nearly 100 suspected illegal immigrants since May 9. In exchange for being deported back to Latin America, the majority of the immigrants have been pleading guilty over the last two weeks to entering the country illegally.

E-mail jhannah@nky.com

Fischer issued a new statement this week reiterating it does not condone the hiring or use of illegal immigrants. The company said it supports all governmental employment regulations and stands by its hiring procedures.

And I'm the Tooth Fairy.

Yahoo! There goes another one. If this keeps up I think companies will start getting nervous.

Is that a light at the end of the tunnel (I hope)....

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 40355/1077

Last Updated: 4:48 am | Saturday, June 24, 2006
Employer denies charges
Contractor accused of hiring illegals
BY RYAN CLARK | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Two central figures in the investigation of using illegal immigrant workers pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday to charges of harboring the workers and laundering money.

Contractor Robert Pratt, 47, and his sister, Josefina Moreno, are accused of paying $141,600 to framing crews of alleged illegal immigrants over the past five years.

The charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000.

Calling the case a "complex matter" Friday, Judge David L. Bunning continued the trial - which was originally scheduled for July 17 - to Oct. 2, based on requests from defense attorneys.

Pratt's lawyers said they needed more time to consider the added charges of money laundering, as well as to interview some of the detained material witnesses.

"Given the additional counts, and given the fact there are approximately 40 material witnesses, I am going to issue the continuance," Bunning said.

In May, Pratt, his sister Moreno, son Howard Pratt and daughter Jacqueline Pratt were indicted on charges of harboring illegal aliens or conspiring to harbor illegal aliens. The indictment states Robert Pratt would also lease apartments in Northern Kentucky for illegal immigrants.

On June 14, a federal jury indicted Robert Pratt and Moreno on nine counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy.

Pratt will await trial under house arrest in Franklin, Tenn.

The indictment states Progressive Builders, one of Pratt's companies, was established specifically to provide framing services for new home construction for Fischer Homes of Crestview Hills. Fischer issued a statement last week reiterating it does not condone the hiring of illegal immigrants.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McBride said Friday there are surveillance videos and DVDs to support the case.

Four Fischer employees - Douglas Witt, Timothy Copsy, William Allison and William Ring - have been charged with harboring, or conspiring to harbor, illegal aliens.

A federal indictment states the four supervisors knowingly used illegal immigrants employed by Pratt's companies for the Tree Top subdivision in Hebron and Tara subdivisions in the Plantation Pointe development in Florence.

As part of the investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have rounded up nearly 100 suspected illegal immigrants since May 9.

E-mail rclark@nky.com

Here is what I love...in this case, in exchange for transportation back home, 100 illegal aliens have pleaded GUILTY to being in the country illegally...HELLO, a guilty plea means they VIOLATED the law. So, why is it then that in other situations ICE orders illegals be set free?

We need about 10,000 more cases just like this one to set a SERIOUS example.