Asplundh Tree Expert Co., a family-owned, privately held utility contractor, was charged Tuesday with one count of unlawfully employing illegal immigrants. The company knowingly accepted fraudulent identification documents from unauthorized aliens.
The Pennsylvania-based company provides brush clearance and tree trimming for gas and power companies. Asplundh senior employees, including supervisors and a vice president directed personnel to accept fraudulent identification documents from certain employees in or about 2010 through 2014, according to the press release.
Asplundh personnel accepted fraudulent documents, including driver’s licenses, green cards and Social Security cards, from previous and new employees who were unauthorized to work in the U.S.
An Asplundh vice president and three supervisors previously pleaded guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud and misuse of visas. All four defendants face a maximum sentence of five years’ probation and a $3,000 fine.
