Eighteen Atlanta Gas Station Employees Indicted for Illegal Alien Ring
ATLANTA -- According to the U.S. Attorney's office, 18 people have been indicted on federal charges stemming from a ring that used illegal immigrants as employees in metro Atlanta gas stations and convenience stores, reported the Associated Press.
The 18 people have been charged with conspiracy and inducing and encouraging undocumented aliens to live in the United States, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office. Millions of dollars also are sought in the indictment. Initial court appearances on the charges began Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, three of those indicted, Mansoor Karimi and his two sons, Malik and Ramzan Karimi, owned a business called Sugar Bear Inc. They also owned and operated gas stations in the metro area.
The three created business agreements with the other defendants, leasing the gas station sites and employing illegal aliens at those sites, the statement said.
"The defendants used undocumented aliens as a means of attaining higher profits through non-payment of overtime compensation, non-payment of employer-share taxes and non-payment of mandatory employee benefits," the statement said.
The illegal aliens were paid in cash and through paychecks with fake Social Security numbers, with cash payments being concealed by fake vendor invoices, the statement said.
The 18 people have been charged with conspiracy and inducing and encouraging undocumented aliens to live in the United States, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office. Millions of dollars also are sought in the indictment. Initial court appearances on the charges began Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, three of those indicted, Mansoor Karimi and his two sons, Malik and Ramzan Karimi, owned a business called Sugar Bear Inc. They also owned and operated gas stations in the metro area.
The three created business agreements with the other defendants, leasing the gas station sites and employing illegal aliens at those sites, the statement said.
"The defendants used undocumented aliens as a means of attaining higher profits through non-payment of overtime compensation, non-payment of employer-share taxes and non-payment of mandatory employee benefits," the statement said.
The illegal aliens were paid in cash and through paychecks with fake Social Security numbers, with cash payments being concealed by fake vendor invoices, the statement said.