PORTLAND, Maine — The co-owner of Mexican restaurants in Waterville, Westbrook and Biddeford pleaded not guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to charges related to the employment of illegal aliens.
Guillermo Fuentes, 36, of Westbrook denied being part of a conspiracy to harbor undocumented aliens for profit, harboring undocumented aliens for profit, and aiding and abetting document fraud.
His brother, Hector Fuentes, 38, of Waterville pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the same charges.
Both were taken into custody in September but only Hector Fuentes was charged. The two men were indicted early this month by a federal grand jury in Portland.
A trial date has not been set.
The brothers own the Fajita Grill Mexican Restaurant in Westbrook, the Cancun Mexican Restaurant in Waterville and the Cancun Mexican Restaurant II in Biddeford. The restaurants remain open.
The Fuentes brothers came to the attention of authorities in April 2008 after Westbrook police stopped several Hispanic men who worked at the Fajita Grill Mexican Restaurant in Westbrook, but had no U.S. identification documents, according to court documents. At least four illegal workers cooperated with authorities over the past several years and have continued to live and work in Maine.
T he brothers allegedly employed illegal aliens and housed them in leased property in Westbrook, Waterville and Biddeford. The men also helped workers obtain fake Social Security and permanent resident cards, the indictment said.
The pair also paid undocumented workers in cash or in tips, according to the indictment. When they issued paychecks to workers, the restaurant owners instructed workers to endorse their paychecks and return them. The checks then were deposited back into the restaurants’ checking accounts, the indictment alleged.
Both men remain free on $100,000 bail secured by $10,000 cash, according to court documents.
If convicted, each man faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
So hiring immigrants carries stiffer penalty than robbing, killing, raping and molestation in the state of Maine?
Go figure…
The article doesn’t mention ‘immigrants’, but does say ‘illegal aliens’ (The actual legal term in our immigration code books). These illegal aliens, as well as the owners of the restaurants committed numerous felonies and these felonies are not victimless crimes. Tax payers are forced to foot the bill for these crimes.
Go figure…
Great point! It should also be mentioned how much this type of activity hurts all the legitimate Maine restaurant owners who hire legal American workers and pay taxes on them.
Key words “illegal aliens”
Our wonderful and upstanding governor celebrated his inauguration at the Cancun in Waterville. Illegals served them a woderful meal and were paid $1.00 per hour.
What a great guy and same with his buddies in the Maine Heritage Policy and the teagagg group.
The food there is pretty good however I’ve also had pretty good food in restaurants that obey the law ! The sad part is that under the current federal administration ( Obama ) these illegal , undocumented folks from away will be treated better than the natural born citizens of the U.S.
Si Senor, mi amigo Eric Holder and the Departmento of Injustice have told mi no problemo as El Presidente Obama needs the Latino vote for the election.
Why? He can buy all the votes he needs……and the dead from Chicago will be only too happy to vote for him.
I’d laugh but, you are probably right.
Since when was the journalistic term for illegal aliens “illegals?”
Fox doesn’t even usually use that term.
Sounds like a Dubyaism.