Family Sentenced For Hiring Illegals . . . (license, illegal immigrants, prison, Mexico)

[Bummer]

FAMILY SENTENCED FOR HIRING ILLEGALS . . .

Knowingly brought in undocumented workers for construction.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

(Covington, KY) A Nashville man who knowingly hired illegal immigrants to work for his subcontracting businesses in Boone County will spend 18 months in federal prison. That was the ruling of US District Court Judge David Bunning on Thursday. Robert Pratt admitted to hiring more than 25 but less than 99 undocumented workers for drywall and framing in Northern Kentucky. Pratt was arrested along with others during a raid on Fisher Homes construction sites in May of 2006.

Also sentenced today were Howard Pratt and Jacqueline Pratt-Medina, his son and daughter. H. Pratt received 1 year in prison and Pratt-Medina got probation, with 6 months of home incarceration. Jose Trejo-Soto, a contractor for Pratt, also received a year sentence for setting up his own business and hiring illegal workers.

Three illegal immigrants who worked as crew chiefs got 5 month sentences and a US citizen got probation as well. During the sentencing, R. Pratt told Judge Bunning he knew what he was doing was illegal but everyone else was doing it and he figured if he got caught, he'd only get a slap on the hand as punishment.

Several family members, some from Mexico and others in the country illegaly cried during the sentencing but all were shocked when Robert Pratt was escorted out of the courtroom by a US Marshall to two deputies waiting with handcuffs.

FANTASTIC NEWS . . . hopefully, this is only the beginning!

[RickM]

Thank god this is finally happening. I hope this proves that they get more than a "slap on the hand".

[ProLogic]

If this happens on a nationwide scale, I sense repercussions.

[ArizonaBear]

The axe is falling...........

Note too that the impending recession is also driving many illegal immigrants out of the USA---------more and more employers are finding out they are not worth the risk anymore.

[ProLogic]

This could also put small business out of business who require illegal labor simply because they couldn't compete with bigger companies. There is this mom and pop hamburger joint who uses illegal labor. They've been in business for over 50 years and have recently hired illegals because they simply can't afford to hire legal labor.

[Jess5]

Originally Posted by ProLogic

This could also put small business out of business who require illegal labor simply because they couldn't compete with bigger companies. There is this mom and pop hamburger joint who uses illegal labor. They've been in business for over 50 years and have recently hired illegals because they simply can't afford to hire legal labor.

Then they can't afford to own a business, like many of us.

[ProLogic]

Originally Posted by Jess5

Then they can't afford to own a business, like many of us.

So, because Wal-mart is new in town and takes business away from the local companies they can no longer afford to own a business?

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by ProLogic

So, because Wal-mart is new in town and takes business away from the local companies they can no longer afford to own a business?

Wal-Mart takes no business away-------shoppers choose to go there.

NOTE: I am no fan of Wal-Mart either-----------I avoid 'em as much as possible.

[Jess5]

Originally Posted by ProLogic

So, because Wal-mart is new in town and takes business away from the local companies they can no longer afford to own a business?

Again, if they can't afford to operate a business without hiring ILLEGAL LABOR, then they can't afford a business, like many of us.

[Hawkeye48]

I'm glad they got nailed. I wish they lost their business license though. Would have been even better if they got a bit more time in jail as well.