Franklin County Company Sentenced for Employing Illegals

By Robert Patrick, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Feb. 8–A Franklin County apple company and a company officer were sentenced to probation Thursday for hiring illegal immigrant workers, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

In addition, Lochirco Fruit and Produce, which does business as Happy Apples, agreed to forfeit $500,000 and pay a fine of $99,000.

Lochirco pleaded guilty in November to a misdemeanor charge of hiring illegal aliens and company officer Joette Reidy, 40, of Washington, pleaded guilty to one felony count of hiring illegal aliens. Both admitted to a “pattern and practice” of “knowingly and intentionally” hiring unauthorized alien workers for years.

Prosecutors said that “many” of the company’s 60 or 70 employees were illegal immigrants when federal agents raided the property in October of 2006, .

The company grows apples and sells apples, apple cider and caramel apples and has locations or facilities in or near Washington, Marthasville and Union, Mo.

In November, Reidy lawyer Paul D’Agrosa and company lawyer Richard Sindel said that the workers were treated well, earned more than the minimum wage and were housed in company lodging.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware said said the pay varied, but was roughly $6 or $7 an hour, with $1 per hour bonus if the worker stayed the season. He agreed that workers were not treated poorly.

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