Posted on 03/14/2003 7:35:30 AM PST by HAL9000
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- A former manager at a Tyson poultry plant admitted knowingly hiring illegal workers as prosecutors wrapped up their immigrant-smuggling case against Tyson Foods.Former Shelbyville plant manager Spencer Mabe, who pleaded guilty in deal with prosecutors, testified under cross-examination Thursday that although he was aware of illegal hirings and dealt with an immigrant smuggler, he never personally inspected employee hiring records.
"Any time they came through a recruiter, I pretty much knew they were illegal," Mabe said.
Mabe, who was fired in 2001, earlier told the federal court jury he went along with hiring illegal workers because he was dedicated to the company.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John MacCoon rested the government's case in the five-week-old trial Thursday.
Defense attorneys expect their case to take two weeks.
Also Thursday, the judge heard motions by defense attorneys, who said the government had failed to prove any defendant caused illegal immigrants to be brought into the United States, caused their transport or caused them to possess false Social Security numbers. He did not immediately rule.
Tyson and some former managers are accused of hiring illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America as part of a nationwide conspiracy to boost production and profits.
Tapes of secretly recorded conversations between undercover agents posing as immigrant smugglers and Tyson managers were a big part of the government's evidence. Some of those conversations indicated hiring illegal immigrants, particularly through temporary agencies, was routine.
The company, based in Springdale, Ark., contends the government's investigation involved only a few plant managers who independently violated Tyson's "zero tolerance" policy on illegal hiring.
But Mabe and another fired manager have testified executives up the company's chain of command knew about the hirings. Both pleaded guilty in January to an immigrant smuggling conspiracy charge and face up to of five years in prison when they are sentenced May 12.
If found guilty, Tyson could face millions of dollars in fines.
Hitlery Clinton voted to OK murdering babies whenever.
And every company ought to be held accountable for willfully breaking the law.
My landlord used to work for the INS. He would routinely bust a local hotel/resturant for illegals. Finally, a manager verbally abused him for ruining her business; it's kinda funny how a federal lawsuit with a 12year sentence shuts the management up.
Don't forget the ag industry.
I call on a few of these places and I see recent arrivals (Mexicans, Serbians, etc.)and have been told its tough to get workers for this industry.
I can't speak for the industries you call on, but I know in WA state and the apple industry, there are many US citizens who would love the jobs that the illegals get. My kids couldn't get jobs in the warehouses and few were available in the orchards. Pretty much you had to know someone to get hired if you weren't an illegal.
What a crock of Pooo.... Tyson has actively pursued Illegals for their workforce for years. One town in NW Arkansas in particular is the subject of regular INS activity. Not to try in any way to make this sound like a racial slurr, because it's not meant that way - BUT - night time INS raids woudl resemble turning the lights on in severely roach-infested kitchen - The primary housing area for the huge population of Illegals would have the INS vehicles and a helecopter coming in, while tail lights and crowds of people flock to the fields and woods nearby. Absolutely amazing.
And guess who the primary employer in the area is - You guessed it - TYSON.
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