A Texas company pleaded guilty Tuesday to harboring and transporting illegal aliens. The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The seismic surveying company based in Sealy, Texas, pleaded guilty to the charges at a hearing in U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania. They have agreed to forfeit $250,000 cash and pay a $25,000 fine.
The investigation by HSI special agents, with assistance from the FBI and Williamsport (Pa.) Bureau of Police revealed that in May 2011, the company’s field operations supervisor hired 19 illegal aliens to work on a seismic surveying project in Lycoming County, Pa. The federal indictment alleged that the company failed to verify the immigration status of the aliens and did not prepare the required Form I-9 and supporting documentation concerning the aliens’ authorization to be in the United States.
The supervisor pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of aiding the improper entry of aliens into the U.S. He faces six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
