Keaton Gets a Year for Hiring Undocumented Workers

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The jig is up for Tommy F. Keaton, 71, of Shawnee, Kansas. The former executive of Century Roofing, officially Canadian West, Inc., will spend the next 12 months and one day in federal prison after admitting to knowingly employing workers not authorized to work in the United States. U.S. Attorney Tom Beall announced the sentence Monday, a culmination of a case stretching back to 2016.

Keaton, indicted in June 2016, pleaded guilty February 16th to harboring an alien unlawfully in the U.S. – a felony. The plea agreement revealed the scope of the operation: Keaton admitted to harboring up to 24 undocumented workers through roofing projects across the Kansas City metro area. Chief U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson didn’t just hand down a prison sentence; she ordered the forfeiture of a staggering $1.4 million seized from Keaton during the investigation. He’s currently free on bond but will be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service when ordered.

This wasn’t a solo operation. Graziano Cornolo, 56, of Lenexa, also pleaded guilty to unlawfully employing aliens and received probation. However, Cornolo wasn’t spared financially. He forfeited over $800,000 and his stake in another $500,000 seized from Century Roofing. Alberto Diaz-Hernandez, 34, also entered a guilty plea, admitting to misprision of a felony related to Century’s illegal hiring practices and was sentenced to two years’ probation.

The total take from this case isn’t just prison time. Over $2 million in assets have been forfeited, a clear message that exploiting undocumented workers won’t be tolerated. Century Roofing’s business model, built on cheap labor obtained through illegal means, has been effectively dismantled. The company installed both commercial and residential roofs, profiting handsomely from its disregard for the law.

The investigation was a coordinated effort, involving multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Homeland Security Investigations took the lead, and Beall was quick to thank them for their “outstanding work.” This wasn’t a quick bust; it was a long-haul investigation that required meticulous documentation and unwavering dedication.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Keaton and his associates. The sentence serves as a stark reminder: cutting corners on labor and exploiting vulnerable individuals carries serious consequences. This isn’t just about immigration; it’s about fraud, financial crimes, and the deliberate violation of federal law, and the Grimy Times will continue to follow the fallout.