James R Barger Jr, Harboring Illegal Aliens, Nebraska 2018

Omaha contractor James R. Barger, Jr., 49, has been slapped with a $150,000 forfeiture after pleading guilty to harboring illegal aliens for commercial advantage and private financial gain, federal prosecutors announced today. The sentence, handed down in federal court by U.S. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., includes two years of supervised release and 80 hours of annual community service—avoiding jail time amid concerns over COVID-19 in detention facilities.

Barger, the principal owner of J.R. Barger & Sons, Inc., a commercial concrete company based in Omaha, exploited undocumented workers to pad his profits. In April 2018, federal agents descended on multiple job sites and found 27 field employees working illegally in the U.S. Investigators confirmed that Barger knowingly employed these workers, many using falsified identification, and allowed them to swap fake IDs during employment to avoid detection.

The scheme went deeper: Barger permitted undocumented employees to buy used company vehicles, effectively tying them to the business while shielding his operation from scrutiny. The arrangement ensured a captive, low-wage workforce under the radar of both federal immigration and labor authorities—propping up his business at the expense of legal job seekers and national security.

“Protecting the integrity of the U.S. immigration system is a key component of our homeland security mission,” said Katherine Greer, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City. “Enforcing immigration and hiring laws helps protect jobs for U.S. citizens and lawful residents.” The agency led the investigation, underscoring a growing crackdown on employers who profit from illegal labor.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Authorities say the collaboration highlights federal resolve to dismantle employment-based immigration violations, especially when tied to financial exploitation.

Barger’s forfeiture of $150,000 marks one of the larger financial penalties in recent years for immigration-related labor crimes in Nebraska. While he dodged prison, the conviction and steep penalty send a warning to contractors who cut corners by hiring undocumented workers: the feds are watching, and the price of exploitation just went up.

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