Garment Shop Owner Sentenced for Hiring Illegal Immigrants

A Los Angeles garment sweatshop owner was sentenced Wednesday to six months in federal prison for employing illegal immigrants.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lew gave Miguel Herrera-Morales the maximum term allowable under federal sentencing guidelines, said Assistant U.S. Atty. David Lavine. “I hope that the six-month sentence imposed in this case will deter employers from hiring illegal aliens,” Lavine said.

Herrera-Morales and his business partner, Sebastian Gonzalez, owned and operated an unnamed and unregistered garment sweatshop at 241 E. 53rd St., the prosecutor said. About 20 illegal immigrants worked there.

Since 1986, immigration law requires all employers to verify the eligibility of potential employees to legally work in the United States.

The sweatshop was discovered by federal officials last July as part of an ongoing investigation of illegal hiring practices by Los Angeles-based firms, Lavine said.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. attorney’s office are targeting businesses that hire illegal immigrants to lower operating costs and avoid paying the taxes and benefits. Gonzalez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years probation.