A Mishawaka businessman is paying the price—quite literally—for hiring illegal workers.
Janco Composites and its owner, Douglas Jaques, were sentenced Thursday in federal court after reaching a plea agreement.
As a corporation, Janco must pay $210,000 and will be on probation for 5 years. Jaques will also have to personally pay $30,000 and will be on probation for one year.
Federal agents raided the Mishawaka business two years ago. Thirty six illegal Mexican immigrants were arrested as a result. As part of the plea, Jaques took full responsibility so the other workers would not be prosecuted.
Thursday, Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook said Janco had a culture of hiring illegal workers, but since the raid in March 2007, has been cooperative and changed its practices. Brook also said Janco’s sentencing is a message to other companies which hire undocumented workers.
Rebecca Ruvalcaba from at La Casa de Amistad in South Bend says while many immigrants have a hard time getting their citizenship, she says laws are in place for a reason.
""There's certain laws that we have to follow and in regard to breaking those laws, there are consequences to that,"" Ruvalcaba says. ""They can't leave, but yet, they can't work. So you have these cases...many, many cases, that are in limbo.""
Those consequences for Janco and its owner are in the form of fines, probation, and possibly, a change in policy.
http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/43581727.html
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