Thomas Gard, Hiring Undocumented Aliens, Texas 2013

HOUSTON, Texas - In a shocking case of hiring undocumented aliens, Thomas Gard, 50, of Nederland, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport undocumented aliens, concealing and harboring undocumented aliens, and inducing and encouraging their residence in the U.S. for commercial advantage and financial gain.

According to the factual basis in support of Gard's plea, Hallmark Industrial Services Inc. (HIS), owned by Phillip Taylor Hallmark, 49, of Winnie, knowingly employed undocumented aliens to clean up an oil spill in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in August 2010.

Agents learned that HIS fraudulently completed work authorization forms on behalf of the undocumented aliens and provided them with meals, transportation, and housing while they worked on the cleanup project.

Gard, a manager at HIS, admitted to conspiring with Hallmark to transport the undocumented aliens back from Michigan after a former U.S. Congressman accused HIS of hiring undocumented aliens to clean up the oil spill.

The investigation revealed that the undocumented aliens received less than what the contractor paid HIS, and that Gard and Hallmark paid them in cash, cashing their checks en masse at a local bank in Winnie.

Both Gard and Hallmark face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine at sentencing. Hallmark is set for sentencing on October 25, 2013, while Gard will be sentenced on November 8, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

“Jobs are a major reason people come to America - be it in accordance with our laws or by breaking them. Those who facilitate the latter for the sake of profit need to understand that their actions come with a price,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/local-businessmen-convicted-hiring-and-transporting-undocumented-aliens