Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Company admits providing illegal workers (Military MRE plant)
Plainview Daily Herald ^ | 1/5/2005

Posted on 01/05/2005 4:20:58 PM PST by 4.1O dana super trac pak

An employment agency pleaded guilty to falsifying forms to get illegal immigrants jobs at the nation's top producer of U.S. military battlefield rations.

James Echensberger, vice president of San Antonio-based Tollin Group Inc., on Tuesday pleaded guilty on the company's behalf to one count of conspiracy to provide false and fictitious statements during an FBI investigation.

Investigators found that Tollin, which does business as Remedy Intelligent Staffing, was trying to cover up hundreds of fraudulent "I-9" employment eligibility documents. The illegal workers were hired by Wornick Co., which packages high-calorie "meals ready to eat" for troops in Iraq.

The FBI initiated the investigation after an al-Qaida operative arrested in 2003 was found with information indicating that McAllen and Wornick could be terrorists targets. Wornick had $47 million Department of Defense contracts to deliver more than 1.1 million meals between February and May 2003.

"Although no direct link to terrorism was found in this case, companies that place short term profits above potential threats to national security will be held accountable for their illegal conduct," U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said in a news release.

Remedy has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine, $414,000 in civil penalties, and serve five years of probation - the maximum under federal sentencing guidelines.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: aliens; dhs; immigrantlist; immigration; mcallen; militarythreat; mre; mres; texas; wornick
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

1 posted on 01/05/2005 4:21:01 PM PST by 4.1O dana super trac pak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Geez, what an idiot! Lock him up for good for all I care.


2 posted on 01/05/2005 4:22:18 PM PST by oolatec
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oolatec

One company down and more to go. Wait till they are fined and jailed that may detour the cheap labor practices.


3 posted on 01/05/2005 4:27:08 PM PST by stopem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak

"Remedy has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine, $414,000 in civil penalties, and serve five years of probation - the maximum under federal sentencing guidelines."

I guess that's 5 years he'll hire legal workers.


4 posted on 01/05/2005 4:30:19 PM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak

Dang, he should be indicted under the Patriot Act or something. How do we know that some of the "illegals" weren't Islmofascists getting access to food that our military will be eating and putting very bad stuff in there?

Just like the guy with the laser---they say it isn't terrorism but are using the Patriot Act---what other reason would a person/persons be trying to blind pilots?


5 posted on 01/05/2005 4:33:47 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stopem

How cheap was the labor? Plainview isn't all that prosperous. Why could they not fill the order with citizens?


6 posted on 01/05/2005 4:35:48 PM PST by metalcor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth
"what other reason would a person/persons be trying to blind pilots?"

Stupidity combined with curiosity and a lack of common sense?
7 posted on 01/05/2005 4:37:38 PM PST by NJ_gent (Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak

"Although no direct link to terrorism was found in this case, companies that place short term profits above potential threats to national security will be held accountable for their illegal conduct," U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said in a news release."


Do we dare hope that the "authorities" may start coming down on some of these employers?


8 posted on 01/05/2005 4:39:28 PM PST by JustAnotherSavage (Government spends what government receives plus as much as it can get away with-Milton Friedman)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak

Cancel all their government contracts and fine them a percentage (say 5%) of their gross revenue for FY2003. If they're still in business after all's said and done, I'll bet they'll stick to legal hiring practices.


9 posted on 01/05/2005 4:39:55 PM PST by NJ_gent (Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JustAnotherSavage

This IS something congress can do this session about illegal immigration---make it a federal felony to hire illegals and with it a lengthy stay in prison for any employer that is found to have one on his job site, office, warehouse, restaurant, hotel, ranch, farm etc.

If they don't get hired, maybe, just maybe they won't come because there won't be any money to send home to Vincente!!!


10 posted on 01/05/2005 4:45:33 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

"what other reason would a person/persons be trying to blind pilots?"

Stupidity. There's a lot of it around if you haven't noticed. Getting charged as a terrorist under the Patriot Act is bullshit.


11 posted on 01/05/2005 4:56:57 PM PST by dljordan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak

It's def a start, but this probably happens hundreds if not thousands of times a day.Just the tip of the iceberg. How difficult would it be for a terrorist to infiltrate a stategic supplier?


12 posted on 01/05/2005 4:57:04 PM PST by thombo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth
Congressional Switchboard: 1-877-762-8762

_________ "There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism...The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin...would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities."

Teddy Roosevelt, Republican President (Speech, New York, 1915)

13 posted on 01/05/2005 4:57:48 PM PST by JustAnotherSavage (Government spends what government receives plus as much as it can get away with-Milton Friedman)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: NJ_gent
Also no new govt contracts for ANY company that hires any member of managment of this company.

The people who chose to hire illegals should be forced to compete with illegals for unskilled work for the rest of their lives. Make them unemployable in any way possible.

14 posted on 01/05/2005 5:01:42 PM PST by Dinsdale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Dinsdale
"Also no new govt contracts for ANY company that hires any member of managment of this company. The people who chose to hire illegals should be forced to compete with illegals for unskilled work for the rest of their lives. Make them unemployable in any way possible."

I'll certainly go with the first part, but I can't go with the second. I don't want to see government harrassing an individual, but I'll happily see it protect itself from companies where grossly irresponsible people are hired as decision-makers.
15 posted on 01/05/2005 5:04:34 PM PST by NJ_gent (Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

Well, no doubt those guys at Remedy not-so-intellegent staffing knew they were hiring illegals; but a vast number of illegals get hired by simply presenting IDs that appear to meet the current I-9 requirements. A readily accessible on-line database of non-citizens holding right-to-work status would be a great benefit to employers who want to comply with the laws, yet not unfairly deny work to legitimate applicants.
Of course this would be a completely wasted effort if we continue down the path of issuing drivers' licenses to illegals.


16 posted on 01/05/2005 5:10:03 PM PST by charleywhiskey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak
"Although no direct link to terrorism was found in this case, companies that place short term profits above potential threats to national security will be held accountable for their illegal conduct," U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said in a news release.

This sets a precedent for going after computer companies, high-tech electronic companies, and all other businesses that hire illegals, or do business with say, China.

17 posted on 01/05/2005 5:17:33 PM PST by Captainpaintball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 4.1O dana super trac pak; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; ...

ping


18 posted on 01/05/2005 5:40:45 PM PST by gubamyster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak
Wornick had $47 million Department of Defense contracts to deliver more than 1.1 million meals between February and May 2003.

Seems excessive to charge >$40 for an MRE. Must be some of those gourmet MREs.

19 posted on 01/05/2005 5:58:07 PM PST by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 4.1O dana super trac pak

Throw these vermin in jail! We need to start getting serious about these criminals.


20 posted on 01/05/2005 5:59:59 PM PST by kittymyrib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson