Employer gets 6.9 million in fines/forfeitures for hiring illegals
One of the employers got a little jail time but not enough.
Jail is a good thing for these people.
Despite calls for leniency from prosecution and defense attorneys, U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson gave Yvonne Michelle Peabody, operator of the Peabody Corp., 90 days in prison for employing undocumented workers over a four-year period.
The Newport News-based Peabody Corp. owns a fleet of trawlers used mostly for scalloping. Michelle Peabody, as she is known, and her father, company founder William “Frankie” Peabody, pleaded guilty to employing illegal immigrants.
The Peabodys previously agreed to pay $6.9 million in fines and forfeitures, which represents the profits they made using the undocumented workers. But the question of jail time remained unanswered as Jackson considered the backgrounds of the defendants and other factors.
“The court finds your conduct to be egregious,” Jackson told Michelle Peabody, noting that the government could have easily charged her with felony crimes. Why weren't they charged with felonies?
Both sides also agreed that the workers were treated and paid fairly.
The workers earned more than $10,000 per fishing trip, the prevailing wage for scallopers. It's a common myth that all/mostillegals are being cheated by employers that pay them sub-minimum wages, but I do know that happens.
“During this investigation, no evidence of mistreatment of workers was uncovered,” DePadilla wrote in a court filing. “Peabody Corp. officers valued foreign born workers because they were diligent workers who did not complain.”
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