Published: September 2, 2010

http://citizensvoice.com/news/man-tied-to-employment-agency-indicted-on-money-laundering-charges-1.987367

A man connected to a former Wilkes-Barre employment agency has been indicted on federal charges of money laundering and harboring, transporting and employing hundreds of illegal immigrants over several years.

Authorities on Tuesday said a federal grand jury issued a five-count indictment against Wally Nguyen, 44, of Danville, for his role in the operation of H&T Staffing, which operated for years at 198 S. Main St.

Six others have previously pleaded guilty in the illegal labor scheme.

Federal authorities on Tuesday said Nguyen "engaged in a conspiracy to promote and conceal the profits" of the business and defraud the state of Pennsylvania and the United States.

H&T recruited, employed, transported and harbored an illegal work force of hundreds of illegal immigrants, paying them weekly in cash, over a period of several years, federal authorities said.

Federal authorities raided the H&T office on June 27, 2007, one week after federal agents nabbed 81 illegal workers at Iridium Industries, a plastics manufacturer in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.

Altogether, H&T Staffing was paid about $12 million between 2002 and 2007 to fill temporary factory jobs, prosecutors previously said.

The others sentenced previously in the case were given prison time and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and restitution.

Prosecutors on Tuesday said Nguyen faces up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. They are also seeking to seize his assets and property.