KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Tommy Frank Keaton, 71, of Shawnee, Kansas, isn’t building roofs, he’s building a criminal record. The co-owner of Canadian West, Inc., and RAM Metal Products, doing business as Century Roofing, pleaded guilty today to knowingly harboring illegal aliens – a fancy way of saying he exploited undocumented workers for profit.
According to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall, Keaton willingly provided not just employment, but also transportation and housing to Mexican citizens he knew were in the country illegally. The operation centered around Century Roofing, located at 6 South 59th St. Lane in Kansas City, Kan. Keaton wasn’t just offering jobs; he was facilitating a scheme that undercut legitimate businesses and preyed on vulnerable individuals.
The feds say Keaton went beyond simple employment. He supplied vehicles to these workers, allowing them to travel to and from job sites, and provided lodging at a residence he owned in the 1500 block of South 18th Street, Kansas City, Kan. This wasn’t accidental; it was a deliberate effort to maintain a cheap and easily controlled labor force. The scale of the operation is significant.
The government isn’t letting Keaton off easy. They’ve seized a whopping $1.4 million from him, and he’s admitted this money represents the proceeds of his illegal activity. That cash is now subject to forfeiture, meaning Keaton will lose it all. One count of knowingly harboring illegal aliens is the charge he’s facing, but the financial ramifications are substantial.
This wasn’t a solo operation, though Keaton is the one facing the music. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) spearheaded the investigation, with crucial assistance from the Kansas Department of Revenue, and a slew of local law enforcement agencies: the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, the Overland Park Police Department, the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Lenexa Police Department, and the Shawnee Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting the case.
Keaton’s plea is a stark reminder that exploiting undocumented workers carries serious consequences. While he may have seen a quick buck, he’s now facing the repercussions – a criminal record and the loss of a substantial fortune. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches and details of the full extent of the operation emerge.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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