Illegal Immigrant Guilty Plea [MS irrigation company whacked w/$500K fine, possible prison]

WLBT (Jackson, MS) ^ | May 21, 2012 | David Kenney

[kevcol]

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) -

The owners of a Ridgeland irrigation company pled guilty to harboring illegal aliens this morning.

The U.S. attorney's office says Paul and Barbara Love, owners of Love Irrigation, were charged with improper use of social security numbers and hiding the fact they hired illegal workers from immigration agents.

As part of a plea agreement the couple has said they will pay a fine of $515,000.00.

They could also face up to ten years in prison.

Sentencing has been set for August 2nd. Tuesday, Barbara Love, the majority owner of the company, is expected to plea guilty, to a charge of concealing criminal information.

[kevcol]

background:

A federal indictment says Paul and Barbara Love used illegal immigrants as far back as 2003 at Love Irrigation Inc., based in Ridgeland.

The indictment says the Loves were told by immigration officials in 2008 that some of their employees were illegal immigrants. They allegedly continued using the illegal workers, but designated them as contract laborers, paid them in cash and picked them up from off-site locations. (LINK)

The perps:



"Love Irrigation is an active member of Associated Builders and Contractors of Mississippi, Jackson Metro Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi State Board of Contractors, and The Irrigation Association. We have also earned the designation of Certified Irrigation Contractor, designer and water auditor and are listed in the top 100 Irrigation contractors in the United States." (Love Irrigation website)

Disgraceful. Even after being warned they continued to flout the law. I hope the judge throws them both in prison.

[SaraJohnson]

Greed has the power of self destruction. Anything for a buck and everything can be rationalized.

People who employ illegals are responsible for the corruption and invasion as much as is the government. If they obeyed the law, we would not be a magnet for illegals looking for money here. If we had honest employers, and illegals could find no work here, they would not come.

From there we could do an honest labor need assessment and Americans would have more opportunity and be of more vaule to employers. As it is, we have an abusive free for all.

[tennmountainman]

Looks like the money this couple thought they would be saving by hiring an illegal, will be more than offset by the fine.

Hopes this sends a message to ALL employers.
Search out LEGAL AMERICANS to hire.

[Nifster]

too bad they will only serve time (maybe). How many jobs could US citizens had if these folks had been honest???

I detest these types of ‘bidness’ people

[risen_feenix]

So what did the federal government do after it identified the illegal immigrants? Did they pursue them at all?

Since this investigation seemed to have taken all 4 years of the Obama administration, I’d be very suspect of the “examples” that Obama and crew are trying to make.

[GOYAKLA]

She as a Minority(Female) was the Majority Owner of said company.
How much did she steal from us(Uncle sucker) in the form of Federal Handouts?

[ansel12]

With two national scandals over an 11 year period involving Mitt using the same small time Guatemalan illegals employed by his naturalized Colombian landscaping contractor, Mitt never even paid a serious political price.