The former owner of a New Bedford leather goods company pleaded guilty yesterday to charges he hired and harbored illegal immigrants, capping a lengthy investigation by federal authorities who stormed the factory in early 2007, detaining most of the employees.
Francesco Insolia, 51, of Pembroke, accepted a prison term of 12 to 18 months and a fine of $30,000.
The company, Michael Bianco Inc., will have to pay nearly $2 million in fines and restitution for the overtime owed to workers. Insolia pleaded guilty to helping harbor and conceal illegal immigrants by allowing the company to submit false Social Security numbers to the government.
Attorneys for the company entered guilty pleas on 18 counts of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants between 2004 and 2006.
Speaking at his South Boston Office yesterday afternoon, US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said, “Our nation is rich with opportunities, and it is no wonder that people from around the globe seek to come here to work and live. The defendants’ conduct in this case undermines our nation’s principles of freedom and the integrity of our immigration system, placing legally operating businesses at a competitive disadvantage.”
Insolia’s plea comes less than two weeks after two managers at the company pleaded guilty.
Dilia Costa, 56, the company’s production manager, pleaded guilty to hiring and harboring illegal aliens, and Gloria Melo, 42, pleaded guilty to continuing to employ illegal workers after the company had reason to know they were illegal.
Both women will probably face probation and small fines at their sentencing in January. Insolia is also scheduled to be sentenced in January.
Dozens of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stormed the Michael Bianco factory on March 6, 2007, detaining at least 361 illegal immigrants.
In the days following, federal authorities drew sharp criticism for the raid and its aftermath. Some of the detainees complained of poor conditions at detention facilities and of coercion to sign deportation documents. Some family members of those detained complained that the children of the detainees were left without their primary caregivers.
Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of Boston’s ICE office, yesterday called the allegations of mistreatment outrageous. “All of those allegations were false,” he said.
In a phone interview, Onding Sniffen, a Catholic Social Services attorney from Fall River who represents at least a dozen of the detainees, said of Insolia: “This may be coming to an end for Mr. Insolia, but for my clients, this nightmare is far from over.”
She said of approximately 18 clients, three have been deported and four have found “some form of relief, in a new visa or other special immigration status.”
ICE officials said yesterday that 116 cases are pending before immigration court, 168 workers were deported, 26 have received final orders for deportation, and 16 have had their legal status adjusted allowing them to remain in the United States.
Michael Bianco Inc. made military backpacks and other equipment for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company was sold last year to Eagle Industries of Fenton, Mo.
