Charges in Immigration Raid Allege Conspiracy and Employee Verification Fraud

A Mississippi human resource manager, charged with conspiracy and employee verification fraud, faces more charges for his alleged role in the employment of illegal immigrants by the company.

According to the Hattiesburg American, the individual in a 12-count superseding indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in Jackson, was charged with an added count of aggravated identity theft. He was already under a 25-count indictment, including one count of conspiracy and two dozen counts of employee verification fraud. The superseding indictment (entirely replacing the initial indictment) charges him with one count of conspiracy, one count of aggravated identity theft and 10 counts of employee verification fraud.

The indictment resulted in a sweep of the plant when 595 illegal immigrants were placed under administrative arrest. Nine of those pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated identity theft.

The conspiracy charge alleges the individual, acting on behalf of the company, oftentimes hired illegal aliens and accepted false identity documents as part of the hiring process.

The employment verification fraud charges allege the employee verified the applicant was eligible to work in the United States, even after he had been alerted by the Social Security Administrations the workers’ Social Security numbers were not valid.

The identity theft charge alleges the employee used the name and Social Security number of one person as identification of another. (workersxzcompxzkit)

If convicted, the alleged defendant could receive up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000, on the conspiracy count and on each of the 10 verification fraud counts. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a minimum two-year sentence and a $250,000 fine.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-786-8286.