April 28, 2009

Painting Services Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Hiring, Money Laundering

The owner of a Maryland house painting company (Tempo, Inc. dba Annapolis Painting Services or “APS”) pled guilty to knowingly hiring “dozens” of undocumented workers from 2003 to 2006, failing to employ an I-9 procedure, providing them with leased accommodations in his real estate holdings, transportation to and from work in company vehicles, and paying them in cash until 2005. The Defendant also pled guilty to money laundering, the charges of which stemmed from his use of APS profits which were found to have derived from the hiring of undocumented to workers, to pay his salary and fund his real estate holdings.

Having forfeited seven properties, five bank accounts and ten vehicles, the Defendant now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for hiring unlawful workers and ten years in prison for money laundering. To read the ICE News Release in full, click here.