Woman charged with employing illegal aliens

Published 2:57 pm Wednesday, January 28, 2009

An Alabaster woman was charged in an indictment Wednesday with harboring and employing illegal aliens.

Beverly Linan, 38, owner and operator of Rodriguez Construction Company on Elder Drive, is named in a three-count indictment charging harboring of illegal aliens, knowingly employing illegal aliens and a forfeiture count to recover profits made from employing illegal aliens, according a news release. The indictment was filed at U.S. District Court in Birmingham.

If convicted of all counts, Linan faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.

The illegal aliens who worked for Rodriguez Construction were arrested by the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and are in the process of being deported to their home countries, said U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.

“The knowing employment of illegal aliens not only takes jobs from hardworking Americans, it is against the law, “ Martin said.

Michael Holt, a special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in New Orleans, said employment is the primary driving force behind illegal immigration. Holt said the indictment serves as a warning to all employers.

“No employer, regardless of industry, size, type or location is immune from complying with the nation’s laws,” Holt said. “ICE and our law enforcement partners will continue to bring all of our authorities to bear in this fight using criminal charges, asset seizures, administrative arrests and deportations.”

Rodriguez Construction performed masonry work throughout Shelby and Jefferson counties. Company representatives refused comment on the indictment.

Alabaster Police and ICE issued a warrant to Rodriguez Construction in connection with a two-year investigation into businesses and individuals employing illegal aliens last October.