Posted on 04/08/2018 7:57:23 PM PDT by 11th_VA
BEAN STATION, TN (WATE) - New details were released Friday about Thursday's raid on an East Tennessee slaughterhouse by the IRS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
What initially began as a criminal raid turned into immigration operation at Southeastern Provisions, a cattle slaughter business in Bean Station.
During the raid, 97 people were found who were subject to removal from the United States. Ten of those were arrested on federal criminal charges, one on state charges and 86 on administrative charges. Of the 86 administrative arrests, 54 were placed in detention and 32 were released.
Large Cash Withdrawals
A search warrant affidavit obtained by WATE 6 On Your Site revealed that federal authorities were tipped off by bank employees about large cash withdrawals from Citizens Bank in Morristown made by employees of Southeastern Provisions. An investigation revealed that James Brantley, who is the president of Southeastern Provisions and his wife Pamela Brantley, along with their daughter Kelsey Brantley and Priscilla Keck, an employee, were withdrawing cash to pay employees at the slaughterhouse.
When bank employees questioned the transactions, the affidavit said they were told the cash was used for payroll. Investigators say $25 million in cash was withdrawn from the bank accounts beginning in 2008.
According to the affidavit, when bank officials toured the slaughterhouse in December 2016, they were told most of the employees were Hispanic and paid weekly in cash. Officials also saw a bank vault being readied for installation.
A Confidential Informant
A confidential informant working for law enforcement was hired by Southeastern Provisions and told law enforcement he never completed any paperwork nor was he required to show any identification or documentation before being hired. The informant said he was told he didn't need a lawful identity to work at the company. He also reported he was paid in cash given to him in an envelope. The informant said most of the 60-70 employees he saw working were Hispanic.
The production workers were required to work overtime without being paid extra for their overtime hours, according to the informant. He said they were also required to work with harsh chemicals, including bleach mixed with other cleaning agents, without proper eye protection.
The informant told officials he knew several of the employees used to work at another meatpacking plant in Morristown, but were fired because their paperwork was fraudulent.
Payroll Tax Issues
Multiple withdrawals of more than $100,000 were made from Southeastern Provisions bank accounts, according to the affidavit. On IRS forms, Southeastern Provisions reported only 44 employees to the government. But based on aerial surveillance, 87 vehicles were found parked at the plant, leading authorities to believe the plant was employing 30-40 more undocumented immigrants.
Using numbers from the investigation, officials estimate that if Southeastern Provisions had properly reported wages to the IRS, they would have an additional $2.5 million payroll taxes from 2013-2016 on top of what they had already paid, according to the affidavit.
As part of the investigation, federal officials seized bank records, employee hours logs, contents of any vaults at the business, employee files and other documents.
These employers are going to be hammered and rightly so. If employers were held responsible for this sort of hiring, illegal immigration would not be the problem is has become.
I thought Trump ended Catch And Release.
Taxman cometh
And those employees being paid under the table owe whole lot of back taxes + interest and penalties.
owner needs to be prosecuted, and his political party and contributions brought to light.
Throw the owners into the meat grinders.
The Brantleys should have their citizenship revoked and be deported to Honduras.
“But based on aerial surveillance, 87 vehicles were found parked...”
And that was just in Jose and Maria’s front yard down the street.
I agree, but I also suspect the government investigators didn’t really give a damn about the illegal immigrants. If it wasn’t for all the cash transactions and the unpaid payroll taxes, those illegals would still be there.
They were probably the few citizens the plant chose to hire.
Obviously. You would be pissed off too if you were the only ones at work speaking English..
I live in East Tennessee.
WATE bills itself an “On Your Side”.
No. This liberal TV Station is on the illegals side
in this conservative part of Tennessee.
As far as making donations to the Catholic
Church in Morristown, I have been tempted
to call and offer a donation of 2 Greyhound
Bus tickets back to Mexico.
WATE must think they broadcast in California.
“And those employees being paid under the table owe whole lot of back taxes + interest and penalties”
And all people sending money South of the Border should pay a 5% transfer “Wall” tax. More than fair considering how much is paid under the table to these Illegals.
Thanks for that info. I stopped reading when I got to that part, but had read nowhere else about the bank story ...
The Bank is the real hero in this story.
Lots of Americans without jobs. This is but one reason why.
Some employers should be facing prison sentences.
And the one(s) passing the money under the table need to go to prison.
No passing Go. No collecting $200.
Go directly to jail.
I’m for a 35% fee. That will pay for the wall, the free medical care, the Border Patrol.....
Over fifty down 11,000,000-40,000,000 to go depending on whose numbers are right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.