Here's the U.S. Attorney's news release.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2004 John Yembrick ILLEGAL ALIENS WORKING AT AMFELS CHARGED CONTACT AUSA: Terra Bay (BROWNSVILLE, TX) United States Attorney Michael Shelby announced that federal charges of false representation of Social Security numbers have been filed against 41contract workers at AMFELS, Inc. The defendants charged today were taken into custody yesterday by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in conjunction with an ongoing and year-long multi-agency investigation into the use by illegal aliens of false documents including false Social Security numbers to secure employment. AMFELS, Inc., is a large shipyard company and a Department of Defense contractor. To meet its obligations under this and other jobs, AMFELS contracts with various labor lease companies to supply hundreds of employees to fill both skilled and unskilled labor force needs at its shipyard. At a press conference held today in McAllen, Texas, on an unrelated case, U.S. Attorney Shelby announced the unsealing of an indictment of Remedy Intelligent Staffing, Inc, a temporary employment agency in McAllen, Texas, for concealing its unlawful practice of hiring illegal aliens and submitting falsified employment eligibility forms (I-9's) for the employees it hired to work at another Department of Defense contractor. Commenting upon this case at that conference, U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said, “Both cases represent our continuing commitment to assure our nation's security through the consistent enforcement of our laws. We cannot allow our long-term security to be thrown away for short-term gain. Today, the stakes are too high.” The investigation which lead to the filing to charges today was conducted by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Cameron County Drug Enforcement Task Force (CCDETF). That joint investigation undertaken with the assistance and cooperation of AMFELS, Inc, resulted in the number of contract employees being identified as having been hired and working through the use of a false Social Security numbers. The false presentation or use of a false Social Security number or someone else's Social Security number to secure employment is a felony offense which carries a maximum penalty of five (5) years in prison, without parole, and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. A list of those charged by criminal complaint is attached. Each of the above named defendants will make an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in Brownsville beginning today through tomorrow. This investigation is continuing. This cases initiated today through the filing of a criminal complaint will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charlie Lewis, Terra Bay and Daniel Marposon of the Brownsville office. A criminal complaint is an accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
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