Rancher’s Hearing in Slave Case Delayed
A federal court judge Monday postponed until April 27 a hearing for Edwin M. Ives, a Ventura County flower rancher charged with enslaving Mexican laborers.
U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall reset the Los Angeles hearing after lawyers for Ives and nine co-defendants said they had not signed agreements with federal prosecutors and civil attorneys to settle the case.
Ives, 55, is expected to plead guilty to corporate racketeering and agree to pay $1.5 million in back wages to former workers. He agreed to plead guilty to three felony and four misdemeanor immigration and wage violations and will face up to 18 years in prison, Assistant U.S. Atty. Carol L. Gillam said.
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