Woman linked to Utah immigrant list pleads guilty



MIDVALE, Utah – One of two former state workers pleaded guilty Monday to her role in the release of a list of 1,300 purported illegal immigrants that created panic among Utah's Hispanic community last year.

Leah Carson, 32, was charged with making a false statement by an unemployment compensation agent, a misdemeanor. She will serve one year of probation and pay a $440 fine.

Carson and a former Utah Department of Workforce Service colleague, Teresa Bassett, were accused of compiling the list from people who applied for benefits. It was mailed anonymously to media and police departments last year, along with a note demanding the deportation of those listed.

The charge against Carson referred to the misuse of personal information that she had access to because of her job.

Prosecutors said Bassett, 59, was expected to plead guilty to two felony charges for computer crimes when she appears later Monday in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City. Bassett recently changed her name to London Grace Wellington.

While entering her plea, Carson apologized for her actions and said they were "really stupid." She did not speak following the hearing.

The public release of the list created panic among Utah Hispanics who feared they would be unfairly targeted by immigration officials. Tony Yapias, the director of Proyecto Latino de Utah, said Carson's sentence is an "injustice" because of the fear the list created.

"I'm disappointed justice has not been fairly applied," Yapias said. "Latinos have to go to jail for nothing more than a traffic violation, but you have a person who committed an actual crime but wasn't charged with anything serious."

Carson only helped gather the information for Bassett, who eventually made the list public, Assistant Attorney General Scott Reed said. She stopped helping Bassett when she realized how the information would be used and cooperated with investigators.

Reed said while the release of the list had "a ripple effect on the community ... there was not lasting harm."

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