090201 Howard's Dakota Beef Admits Hiring Illegal Workers

(AP) -- Dakota Beef in Howard, SD has pleaded guilty to federal charges that it knowingly hired 15 illegal immigrants in 2007 and 2008 to work at its organic meatpacking plant.

According to a plea agreement filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls, prosecutors will recommend that a judge fine the company $37,500.

U.S. Attorney Marty Jackley said seven of the workers are being prosecuted on identity theft-type charges and the other eight people are at large or being processed for immigration violations.

A court filing against one of the employees describes a June 24 immigration raid at the plant in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents executed arrest warrants and several Hispanic employees ran out of the plant.

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