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| Subject: Re: Oro you asked why i am anti business in some cases its for reasons like this | |
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Author: Oropan |
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Date Posted: 14:32:51 03/06/07 Tue In reply to: Bev 's message, "Oro you asked why i am anti business in some cases its for reasons like this" on 13:36:01 03/06/07 Tue Let's hope they throw the book at them! But, I bet if we get a Democrat Prez in 08, there will be no more raids on these companies! >among other reasons . > >href="http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO45314/ >">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 | Duncan7 | 22:23:35 03/07/07 Wed |
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