http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4388720&nav=3YeX

(WTNH/AP, Jan. 20, 2006 Updated 5:59 PM ) _ The former owner of a chain of shoreline Dunkin Donuts has been arrested by federal authorities on illegal immigration charges.

The arrests comes after a Team 8 Investigation into whether Guilford resident Jose Calhelha was deliberately brining illegal aliens into the U.S. to work at his Dunkin Donuts stores.

Both Calhelha and his daughter Diana have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to bring illegal aliens into the country.

They were arraigned at US District Court in New Haven Friday afternoon and pleaded not guilty. A judge set bond for Jose Calhelha at three and a half million dollars.

A News Channel 8 investigation featured interviews with former Dunkin Donuts store managers who claim Calhelha recruited them from overseas with promises of big money and shortcuts in getting legal immigration status.

Calhelha owned stores in Branford, Westbrook, Derby, East Haven, and Old Saybrook. As a result of News Channel 8's story, Dunkin Donuts forced Calhelha to sell his stores.

U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor says the charges reveal a brazen disregard for U.S. immigration, employment and tax laws.

The aliens were from Portugal. Prosecutors say Calhelha placed ads in Portuguese newspapers. They say most of the aliens worked seven days and sometimes as many as 85 hours and earned about $250 dollars a week.

They were also required to do other work including landscaping and painting at stores and snow removal at Calhelha's home.