GR biz owner admits hiring illegals (WOOD-MI)

GR biz owner admits hiring illegals
Oswaldo Garces ran Clean-Tech Services

By Henry Erb
Published : Thursday, 21 Oct 2010, 3:55 PM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A well-known Grand Rapids businessman pleaded guilty to a felony in Federal Court to falsely claiming three of his employees were in the country legally when they were not.

Oswaldo Garces ran Clean-Tech Services, a janitorial firm that had contracts with a number of downtown offices, including City Hall.

The indictment to which he admitted guilt said he submitted eligibility forms to the government, saying he had examined three employee documents and they appeared to be genuine. In fact, he knew they were not.

He also admitted to a misdemeanor charge of continuing their employment once he knew they were unauthorized to be in the US.

Garces, 48, faces up to 10 years in prison on the felony charge, and another six months on the misdemeanor. He may also be deported to his native Ecuador.