Restaurant managers charged in illegal-worker case (Houston Chronicle)

Restaurant managers charged in illegal-worker case
By SUSAN CARROLL
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
June 2, 2011, 7:28PM

A federal grand jury has indicted five current and former Mambo Seafood managers and supervisors, accusing them of knowingly employing illegal immigrants and charging that they went as far as allowing workers to change identities and Social Security numbers.

The five-count indictment, unsealed Thursday, outlines a conspiracy that dates back more than two years and involves current and former employees at the Houston restaurant chain, which is also known as Connie's Seafood Kitchen Inc.

Federal agents have arrested four of the five suspects, who are charged with conspiring to induce illegal immigrants to live in the U.S. and harboring them. They also were charged with making false statements on employment documents.

Those arrested include Joel Moreno, 36, a manager; Alfredo Aguilar Gonzalez, 43, a former manager; Romelia Lopez, 26, a supervisor; and Victor Batz, 49, a former supervisor.

Authorities have issued a warrant for former manager Alejandro Aguilar Gonzalez, aka Eduardo Martinez, 27, who was identified as an illegal immigrant from Mexico. The others are U.S. citizens.

Immigration agents raided Mambo Seafood's corporate headquarters and two restaurants on Dec. 2, 2009, detaining 33 illegal immigrants and seizing immigration-related documents.

Authorities allege the Mambo Seafood managers and supervisors knowingly hired illegal immigrants and allowed them to lie on paperwork that documented their employment eligibility. They also are accused of allowing the workers to use multiple Social Security numbers and to change their identities.

The conspiracy and harboring charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. Making false statements on employment forms carries up to five years.