NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MISSOURI PROCESSING PLANT PAYS $450,000 FINE

FOR HIRING ILLEGAL ALIENS

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a southwest Missouri poultry-processing plant where 136 illegal alien workers were arrested in 2007 has paid a $450,000 administrative fine. This fine resulted from a worksite enforcement investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

George’s Processing, Inc., paid a $450,000 fine on Friday, Sept. 14, 2009, as part of a settlement agreement. A Stipulation in Compromise Settlement signed in federal court on Aug. 14, 2009, ordered George’s to pay the fine within 30 days. The funds will be used by ICE to promote future law enforcement programs and activities in the area of worksite enforcement.

“Corporations, like individuals, have an obligation to follow the law,” Whitworth said. “This fine, in the aftermath of federal enforcement action and the prosecution of a number of former employees, sends a strong message to the business community. Immigration laws will be upheld, and violators will be prosecuted.”

The settlement further directs George’s to train its human resource managers and employees on how to prevent the hiring of illegal aliens, and to establish a compliance program to ensure that their hiring and employment practices are in accordance with U.S. immigration laws. The fine paid by George’s does not constitute any admission of wrongdoing by the company.

“Significant fines help hold businesses accountable to ensure a legal workforce,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton. “ICE works diligently to oversee corporate responsibility, and protect jobs for this country’s lawful workers.”

During a May 2007 enforcement action at the George’s plant in Cassville, Mo., ICE agents administratively arrested 136 illegal alien workers from Mexico and Guatemala. Twenty-eight of those workers were criminally prosecuted for various immigration violations, including falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. Two of the company’s hiring personnel were subsequently convicted of harboring illegal aliens and inducing illegal aliens to remain in the U.S.

George’s Processing, Inc. is headquartered in Springdale, Ark., and employs 4,000 workers at its three poultry processing facilities in the states of Arkansas, Missouri and Virginia.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan. It was investigated by ICE, with assistance from the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In April, ICE implemented a new, comprehensive strategy to reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect employment opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce. Under this strategy, ICE is focusing its resources on the auditing and investigation of employers suspected of cultivating illegal workplaces by knowingly employing illegal workers.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at