Illegal Alien Charged With
Exploiting Workers, Owning 14 Firearms
After
conducting a years-long investigation, authorities have charged an illegal
alien business owner with exploiting workers by gaining "unlawful profit
by employing illegal aliens and paying them below-market wages" as well as
illegally owning firearms.
According to the press release, "unlawfully present Mexican
national Juan Antonio Perez, 46, was indicted on federal felony charges May 7
in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia pursuant to a
years-long investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that culminated in the simultaneous
execution of six federal search warrants in Georgia and Tennessee last week
resulting in the federal criminal charges issued Wednesday."
Perez's business, Aztec Construction, allegedly operated by
employing illegal aliens and paying them a below-market wage which allowed his
business to reap profit against competitors who were acting within the law.
"Perez is also charged with being an illegal alien in possession of 14
firearms – federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms,"
the press release says.
Perez's arrest highlights an often overlooked problem in the illegal
immigration debate -- worker exploitation.
According to ICE, "Perez allegedly used the proceeds of his
illegal activity to build a 7,500-square-foot house, bought other houses where
he allowed some of his employees to live, and purchased more than 50 sports
cars and heavily customized trucks."
Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations
Atlanta Nick S. Annan told media that, "Individuals, like Mr. Perez, who
flagrantly violate federal law to give themselves an unfair business advantage
are cheating both law-abiding employers and employees exploited by these unfair
and illegal labor practices."
"This
case is an illustration of serious threats to public safety on numerous
levels," Annan added.
His large cache of weapons also raises additional concerns for
authorities. “Perez not only broke the law by allegedly hiring illegal aliens
at below-market wages and paying no taxes, he had a large assortment of weapons
including shotguns and pistols that he had acquired through various means other
than buying them himself,” U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak told media.
The case will now head to trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney William
Traynor is prosecuting the case.
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