Savage labor exploitation and murder have been punished in Georgia. On Monday, an Ohio company and its Tennessee subsidiary agreed to pay nearly $4 million to resolve criminal and civil claims related to immigration and employment violations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the non-prosecution and settlement agreement with Davey Tree Expert Company and its subsidiary, Wolf Tree, Inc. The agreement resolves allegations that the companies unlawfully employed unauthorized workers and failed to verify their authorization status.
The case revolves around the murder of Eliud Montoya, a whistleblower who reported the companies’ labor exploitation scheme to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Montoya was shot and killed near his home. Pablo and Juan Rangel-Rubio, along with Higinio Perez-Bravo, are serving federal prison sentences for their roles in Montoya’s murder.
The companies allegedly conducted an audit of their employee files and determined that a percentage of their employees did not or could not provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate their authorization to be employed in the United States.
Under the terms of the settlement, Davey Tree Expert Company and Wolf Tree will pay $3,984,325.44 to the U.S. government. This includes restitution to the victim’s estate for lost future income and to another employee for back wages. The settlement amount also includes forfeiture of $1,136,521.19 in payments from the companies’ contracts with Georgia Power and a civil penalty of $1,500,000.
“Eliud Montoya attempted to expose a scheme where his employer and supervisors profited from the use of unauthorized laborers,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg. “His killers have been convicted and sentenced for their crimes, and this settlement holds the corporate entities financially accountable.”
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations. The United States was represented by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including AUSAs Tania D. Groover and Bradford C. Patrick.
Defendant: Davey Tree Expert Company
Crime: Labor Exploitation
City and State: Savannah, Georgia
Date: March 2023
Sentence: $3,984,325.44 in payment to the U.S. government, including restitution and a civil penalty
Amount: $3,984,325.44
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Labor Exploitation|Immigration Violations
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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