Convincing counterfeit documents
bearing stolen
Social Security
Numbers and
names place landscape contractors
at increased risk.
continued from page 46
only later to discover the individuals had
beaten the system with counterfeit documents, names and/or Social Security
Numbers,” Pace says. “Identity theft is
becoming increasingly common.”
Pace has represented about 60 companies
on employment compliance matters, including a dozen or so landscape contractors. Her
firm has helped educate more than 2,500
people on employment requirements over the
past two years, including speaking to Green
Industry professionals at several Arizona
Landscape Contractors Association meetings.
Labor-compliance legal assistance,
according to Pace, typically costs $1,500 to
$3,000 for a 20-employee company, and up
to $5,000 to $8,000 for a landscape contractor employing more than 300 people. But
Pace stresses that the potential costs of not
having your business in order employment
eligibility-wise — everything from losing
your laborers, customers and business license
to facing significant fines and prison time
— demands landscape contractors’ immediate attention.
“The landscaping industry has been
subjected to an increasing number of employment inquiries and raids,” Pace says. “ICE, the
IRS, the Social Security Administration, the
Department of Labor, state welfare and transportation departments, and local law enforcement are all getting in on the action.
“Employers beware: You better use
E-Verify, have your I-9s in order, conduct
training, and establish systems for immigration
compliance and answering Social Security no-match letters and any number of other employ-ment-related inquiries that are more and more
likely to come your way every day,” Pace adds.
While Arpaio adamantly denies allegations from some that MCSO practices racial
profiling or any other unlawful activity, the
sheriff did say that in addition to using
continued on page 50
PHO TOS COURTES Y: U. S. IMMIGRATION AND CUS TOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE)
Sept. 24, 2007 ICE raided three companies owned by Dean A. Hedges — Crestwood, KY-based Hedges Landscape
Specialists, Exterior Designs and Performance Irrigation. One week later, Hedges pleaded guilty to
knowingly employing at least 12 illegal immigrants. A former employee tipped off ICE, telling agents that under the direction of Hedges
he/she was ordered to pay the illegal immigrants cash under the table. The informant claimed Hedges treated the illegal aliens as subclass
workers, including paying them a flat rate regardless of the number of hours they worked each week.
April 25, 2008 ICE agents arrested 28 Mexican workers employed by Nash Gardens, a West El Paso, TX-based
landscaping business and nursery. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted 25 of the workers for using
false documents and/or Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for employment purposes. The other three workers faced administrative charges
for violating immigration laws. Some entered the United States legally with visas but did not have federal authorization to work here.
Aug. 27, 2008 Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies raided Artistic Land Management in Mesa, AZ, and
arrested 29 workers suspected of being in the country illegally, including 20 suspected of identity theft
for using false SSNs and counterfeit documents. The workers’ cases are pending trial. City government in neighboring Chandler, AZ, has
since received bad press because Artistic had a $1.4 million contract to provide landscaping and maintenance for its parks.
