"D/FW Airport employer indicted after airport security sweep"

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

D/FW Airport employer indicted after airport security sweep
The Associated Press


FORT WORTH, Texas - A janitorial service company and seven employees
were indicted Wednesday, accused of compromising security at Dallas-Fort
Worth International Airport by hiring illegal immigrants without doing
background checks and giving them access to secure areas. 

Named in the 41-count federal indictment are Midwest Airport Services
Inc., its president Karen Sue Rowell and six employees - Melissa Sanchez
Clayton Dropp, Silvia Castillo, Aquita Boyd, Abner Kalim Anglada, Edward
John Pitre and Guadalupe Flores Marquez. 

Most are charged with conspiracy to unlawfully employ illegal aliens,
conspiracy to harbor and shield from detection illegal aliens, making
false statements, fraudulent use of a Social Security number and
fraudulent use of employment documents. 

If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and
a $250,000 fine per count. 

Midwest Airport Services, which provides janitorial and cleaning
services to major airports throughout the United States, has had a
contract with Fort Worth-based American Airlines at DFW Airport since
1998. 

According to the indictment, Midwest hired illegal immigrants and
concealed them by falsifying employment and security documents, "all for
the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain," U.S.
Attorney Jane J. Boyle said in a statement. 

Midwest also disregarded government notices from 1999 through 2002 that
said at least 372 employees were using Social Security numbers not
assigned to them, the indictment alleges. In meetings in 2001 and 2002,
Rowell told illegal immigrants that she would warn them if immigration
authorities tried to raid Midwest and detain them, according to the
indictment.


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