Baltimore, Maryland – A grim sentence has been meted out to Capt. Phip’s Seafood Inc. and its owner, Jamie Harrington, for a heinous case of visa fraud that resulted in exploited foreign workers being paid less than the law dictates.
U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Harrington, age 50, to one year of probation, a $10,000 fine, a $5,000 special assessment, and 100 hours of community service for employing undocumented workers. The company itself was sentenced to three years of probation and must pay a staggering $240,000 fine.
The grim reality of the case came to light when it was revealed that from 2013 through 2018, Capt. Phip’s Seafood Inc. systematically sought prevailing wage determinations for various job descriptions, then filed H-2B visa petitions for positions with the lowest wages. This deceitful strategy led to the approval of lower prevailing wages for foreign workers employed by the company.
For instance, in 2016, Capt. Phip’s requested and obtained prevailing wage determinations for three distinct positions but falsely claimed that these were the jobs their temporary foreign workers would perform. In reality, these workers were tasked with a multitude of roles beyond what they were initially hired for, including oyster processing, maintenance work, and truck driving.
Philip J. Harrington Jr., the late owner and President of Capt. Phip’s Seafood Inc., passed away on February 13, 2018, leaving his son, Jamie Harrington, at the helm. Despite the company’s involvement in the H-2B work visa program for over a decade, the exploitation of foreign workers has tarnished its reputation.
This case was a collaborative effort between various federal agencies including the Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, Diplomatic Security Service, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. The fines were paid today, marking a significant victory for labor rights and justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Rite Aid Hit with $5 Mil Fine for Controlled Substances Violations! · Alabama
- Frazier Sentenced for $2M Wire Fraud · Maryland
- Phelan Sentenced for $17.4M Loan Fraud in MD · Maryland
- Financial Advisor Jagveer Singh Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud · Maryland
- Ramon Ingram Sentenced for Baltimore Bank Fraud Scheme · Maryland
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News