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| Subject: Oro you asked why i am anti business in some cases its for reasons like this | |
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Author: Bev |
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Date Posted: 13:36:01 03/06/07 Tue among other reasons . http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO45314/ Firm hired illegals to keep up with military contracts, feds say BOSTON -- The owner of a New Bedford leather company was arrested after a raid at his company Tuesday and accused of hiring hundreds of illegal immigrants to work in "sweat shop" conditions so he could meet the demands of $91 million in military contracts. Frances Insolia, 50, and three top managers were arrested after about 300 federal agents raided Michael Bianco Inc. at about 8:20 a.m. About two thirds of the company's 500 employees were detained by immigration officials on suspicion of being in the U.S. illegally. The sweep caused chaos which saw some workers try to flee, only to be turned back by the bitter cold, said Bruce Foucart, Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge. U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan accused Insolia of exploiting the illegals to maximize his profits on the military contracts. Sullivan said workers were paid about $7 to $7.50 per hour and Insolia set up "deplorable conditions," including docking employees $15 for every minute they were late, and $20 fines for spending more than two minutes in the bathroom or talking while working. "Insolia intentionally seeks out illegal aliens because they are more desperate to find employment and thus more likely to endure the severe work place conditions he has imposed," Sullivan said. In an affidavit, investigators claimed Insolia, plant manager Dilia Costa, payroll manager Ana Figueroa and office manager Gloria Melo allowed an undercover officer posing as an illegal immigrant to continue working at the plant, and Figueroa advised her how to obtain a fake Social Security card. The investigation began after an informant tipped off federal officials, Sullivan said. "The (informant) stated that Insolia and other MBI employees working on his behalf have knowingly and actively been hiring illegal aliens to fill their expanding workforce," Melvin H. Graham, a special agent for ICE, said in his affidavit. Insolia, Costa, 55, Figueroa, 40, and Melo, 41, each were charged with conspiring to encourage or induce illegal aliens to reside in the United States -- which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison -- and conspiring to hire illegal aliens, which is punishable by up to six months in prison. Luis Torres, 45, who worked at a record shop across the street from Michael Bianco, was arrested and charged with preparing fake documents for its workers. He faces 15 years in prison. All five defendants are to appear Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Boston. The practice of hiring illegals was so widespread, according to the informant, that Insolia announced over the loudspeaker that all employees were free to leave when company officials got word in 2005 that immigration officials were nearby. "According to the (informant), approximately 75 individuals ran and hid," Graham said in his sworn testimony. "Some hid in their vehicles and others hid in boxes on the third floor at MBI." Calls to the company were not answered Tuesday. Michael Bianco Inc. founded in 1985, specialized in manufacturing high-end leather goods for retailers including Coach Inc. and Timberland Co. before landing a $9.4 million military contract in 2003 to make survival vests. Between 2004 and 2006, it won $82 million in military contracts to make products including lightweight backpacks. The contracts led to a massive expansion of the company's work force, which grew from 85 employees in 2003 to more than 500 today, according the affidavit. "Employer accountability is essential to ensuring the integrity of the nation's immigration system," Sullivan said. U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials have said they're stepping-up efforts to target employers who hire illegals. Last week, five former managers from IFCO Systems North America, a pallet recycling company, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albany, N.Y., to hiring undocumented foreign workers. ( [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Re: Oro you asked why i am anti business in some cases its for reasons like this | Oropan | 14:32:51 03/06/07 Tue |
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