Send news tip to FOXNews.com

SUBMIT

McDonald's Franchisee Fined $1M for Hiring Illegal Aliens

Thursday, July 17, 2008

RENO, Nev. —  Two executives and the corporate owner of 11 northern Nevada McDonald's restaurants pleaded guilty to felony immigration charges and agreed to pay $1 million in fines.

Authorities say Mack Associates Inc. employed illegal immigrants at the fast-food restaurants by giving them names and Social Security numbers belonging to others.

Nevada U.S. attorney Gregory Brower says the company pleaded guilty Wednesday as a corporation to two felony charges including conspiracy and aiding and abetting.

The case stems from the arrests last September of 56 people in Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids at restaurants in Reno, Sparks and Fernley, and at franchise offices in Reno.

Company directors Joe Gillespie of Sparks and former vice president Jimmy Moore pleaded guilty in federal court in Las Vegas to one charge each.

About 30 of the illegal workers have returned to their native countries while the rest were allowed to stay in the United States until the case closes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fox News Video
ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Advertise on FOXNews.com ,FOX News Channel , and FOX News Radio Jobs at FOX News Channel. Internships @ FNCU

Terms of use. Privacy Statement. For FOXNews.com comments write to foxnewsonline@foxnews.com; For FOX News Channel comments write to yourcomments@foxnews.com

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. © 2008 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. All market data delayed 20 minutes.