Thread: Illegal worker probe at Miss. plant brings charges

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- The largest single-workplace raid in U.S. immigration history led to the indictment Thursday of a personnel director on charges that he hired workers for a Mississippi plant knowing they were in the U.S. illegally.

Jose Humberto Gonzalez faces charges of conspiracy, employee verification fraud and other counts in connection with the hiring of illegal immigrants at a Howard Industries transformer manufacturing plant in Laurel.

The government in the 25-count indictment accused Gonzalez of knowing workers had used fake documents and telling them they would be warned and protected if immigration officials were headed to the plant.

Howard Industries is not accused of any wrongdoing in the indictment.

Gonzalez was released on bond after an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.

Nearly 600 workers at the Howard Industries plant were detained Aug. 25, 2008, when dozens of ICE agents raided the plant. Authorities said at least 413 of the illegal immigrants have since been deported and 23 left voluntarily.

If convicted, Gonzalez could face a maximum penalty of five years per count plus a maximum fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release for each count. No trial date has been announced and it wasn't immediately clear if he has an attorney.

Michael A. Holt, special agent-in-charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in New Orleans, said in a statement that the indictment showed "firsthand how ICE agents use our investigative tools to pursue those who take advantage of illegal labor for personal profit."

The indictment alleges that Gonzalez falsely certified the employment eligibility of job applicants and employees. It alleges Gonzalez examined the workers' documents and reported them to be genuine, even though he knew that the Social Security cards the workers carried were fake.

Nine of those rounded up in the raid pleaded guilty in December to federal identity fraud charges and were sentenced to time served and turned over to federal immigration officials. Most of the others detained were sent to a Louisiana detention facility awaiting hearings.

The operation was the largest single workplace raid in ICE history and targeted one of Mississippi's most successful private businesses, which makes an array of products that also include computers and medical supplies.

Other raids last year led to nearly 400 workers at a kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa and more than 300 workers at a South Carolina poultry plant.

Howard Industries' corporate headquarters also was raided, but no executives have been charged.

Howard Industries has repeatedly declined comment. But a previous company statement said it "runs every check allowed to ascertain the immigration status of all applicants for its jobs. It is company policy that it hires only U.S. citizens and legal immigrants."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... SECTION=US

Jose Humberto Gonzalez put Americans into debt, danger, stole more than $250,000 and is he American or a naturalized American? Or is he an illegal anchor baby?

Howard Industries has repeatedly declined comment. But a previous company statement said it "runs every check allowed to ascertain the immigration status of all applicants for its jobs. It is company policy that it hires only U.S. citizens and legal immigrants."

I bet you they hire Americans LAST. Americans must get the chance FIRST!

I can only go on articles I have read, but there seems to be very few, if any of these businesses, that don't have a hispanic as an owner or atleast the one in charge of hiring, who knows or even supplies phony documents. Like a whole underground, because I'm sorry, I don't buy it that these people are so superior, many can't read or write or speak English and yet can have a job waiting for them when they cross the border. I just doesn't wash.

http://www.kansascity.com/437/story/1184496.html

Illegal worker probe at Miss. plant brings charges
By JACK ELLIOTT JR.
Associated Press Writer


The largest single-workplace raid in U.S. immigration history led to the indictment Thursday of a personnel director on charges that he hired workers for a Mississippi plant knowing they were in the U.S. illegally.

Jose Humberto Gonzalez faces charges of conspiracy, employee verification fraud and other counts in connection with the hiring of illegal immigrants at a Howard Industries transformer manufacturing plant in Laurel.

The government in the 25-count indictment accused Gonzalez of knowing workers had used fake documents and telling them they would be warned and protected if immigration officials were headed to the plant.

Howard Industries is not accused of any wrongdoing in the indictment.

Gonzalez was released on bond after an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.

Nearly 600 workers at the Howard Industries plant were detained Aug. 25, 2008, when dozens of ICE agents raided the plant. Authorities said at least 413 of the illegal immigrants have since been deported and 23 left voluntarily.

If convicted, Gonzalez could face a maximum penalty of five years per count plus a maximum fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release for each count. No trial date has been announced and it wasn't immediately clear if he has an attorney.

Michael A. Holt, special agent-in-charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in New Orleans, said in a statement that the indictment showed "firsthand how ICE agents use our investigative tools to pursue those who take advantage of illegal labor for personal profit."

The indictment alleges that Gonzalez falsely certified the employment eligibility of job applicants and employees. It alleges Gonzalez examined the workers' documents and reported them to be genuine, even though he knew that the Social Security cards the workers carried were fake.

Nine of those rounded up in the raid pleaded guilty in December to federal identity fraud charges and were sentenced to time served and turned over to federal immigration officials. Most of the others detained were sent to a Louisiana detention facility awaiting hearings.

The operation was the largest single workplace raid in ICE history and targeted one of Mississippi's most successful private businesses, which makes an array of products that also include computers and medical supplies.

Other raids last year led to nearly 400 workers at a kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa and more than 300 workers at a South Carolina poultry plant.

Howard Industries' corporate headquarters also was raided, but no executives have been charged.

Howard Industries has repeatedly declined comment. But a previous company statement said it "runs every check allowed to ascertain the immigration status of all applicants for its jobs. It is company policy that it hires only U.S. citizens and legal immigrants."

Posted on Thu, May. 07, 2009 05:14 PM
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wrote on 5/8/2009 12:38:45 AM:
FELONY JAIL time for the ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS! Remember Robert Camp another ILLEGAL EMPLOYER from Houston, "his" ILLEGAL EMPLOYEE murdered a Houston Police Officer by empting a loaded handgun into the Police Officer's back because he was afraid to be DEPORTED AGAIN!

GO ICE! We really need to expedite these workplace raids. They work! It not only arrests the illegal aliens and gets them deported, it catches the organizers, the labor network leaders, the facilitators, and gets them fined and behind bars where they belong.

I support ICE workplace Raids for the above reasons.