Fence Company Execs May Get Prison Hiring Illegal Workers

POSTED: 8:26 am PDT March 26, 2007
UPDATED: 11:56 am PDT March 26, 2007

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SAN DIEGO -- The founder of a Southern California fence-building company is due in federal court in San Diego this week to be sentenced for hiring illegal immigrants.

In December, Riverside-based Golden State Fence Company agreed to pay nearly $5 million, one of the largest fines for immigration violations.

Even more striking: two company executives pleaded guilty to felony charges of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. At the time, federal prosecutors said they planned to seek a prison term of at least six months.
Due to be sentenced Wednesday are Mel Kay, the company's founder, chairman and president, and Michael McLaughlin, manager of the company's Oceanside office.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/11385634/detail.html