Wisconsin Ag Connection - National/World News - Pilgrim's Pride Settles Illegal Worker Investigation

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Pilgrim's Pride Settles Illegal Worker Investigation
USAgNet - 01/04/2010

Pilgrim's Pride Corp. announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Texas and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in relation to a two-year investigation into identity theft and the employment of individuals who are not authorized to work in the U.S.

Under the terms of the non-prosecution agreement, the company has agreed to pay the federal government a total of $4.5 million over the next three years. The agreement marks the completion of the government's investigation, which began in 2007. No civil or criminal charges were ever filed against the company during the course of the investigation, and both the U.S. Attorney's office and Pilgrim's Pride acknowledge that the settlement does not constitute any admission of civil or criminal misconduct on the part of Pilgrim's Pride or any of its directors, officers, management or other employees.

In 2007 and 2008, ICE conducted worksite enforcement and identify-theft investigations at five Pilgrim's Pride locations. As a result of these actions, a total of approximately 338 unauthorized workers were apprehended. Pilgrim's Pride cooperated fully with the U.S. Attorney's office and ICE throughout the course of the investigation.

As part of the settlement, Pilgrim's Pride recognizes that its voluntary compliance programs can be enhanced to more accurately identify unauthorized persons who seek or gain employment through identity fraud or other unlawful means.