WOODINVILLE — The owner of a Snohomish County drywall company forfeited $25,000 Thursday and must pay an additional $75,000 for employing illegal immigrants.
David L. Jones, 47, pleaded guilty in February in U.S. District Court to encouraging and inducing a Mexican national to reside in the U.S.. Federal prosecutors alleged that Jones repeatedly violated the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Jones was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation. His company, DJ Drywall, also will be on probation for five years and will be required to confirm that all its employees are allowed to legally work in the U.S.
The company ceased bidding on any new work earlier this year and laid off all of its employees, except Jones’ wife and daughter, according to court papers.
Jones and his wife are liable for more than $800,000 in business debt, Seattle defense attorney David Smith wrote.
“Their hopes for future financial security have been shattered,” he wrote.
This was not the first time that Jones was investigated for hiring illegal workers. He paid a $32,000 fine after a 2008 audit found that he violated immigration rules. A second audit in 2011 found that Jones knowingly hired 21 unauthorized aliens, according to court documents. He was fined $27,000.
The third investigation again found that Jones hired unauthorized workers and paid them off the books, according to prosecutors. He also encouraged them to submit false documentation.
“Allowing some businesses to ignore hiring rules creates an uneven playing field for all,” U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes said in a statement.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
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