Former Agriprocessors Executive Arrested For Employing Illegal Labor

October 31, 2008 7:39 p.m. EST

Postville, IA (AHN) - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested a former executive of Agriprocessors, the country's largest kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, for harboring illegal immigrants as workers and child labor violations.

Sholom Rubashkin, 49, a powerful member of the Hasidic Jewish community, faces charges on conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for profit, aiding and abetting document fraud, and aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft, according to CNN.

If found guilty, he may be imprisoned for 12 years and fined $250,000.

On Thursday, Rubashkin waived his right for a preliminary hearing provided that he must wear an anklet that tracks his movement, limit his travel to northern Iowa, submit his and his wife's passports, and post a $1 million appearance bond with half to be paid by Wednesday.

Last May, immigration police arrested over 400 illegal aliens working at the kosher plant managed by Rubashkin at the time of the raid.

Most of those arrested were sentenced to five months in prison and were recently deported after serving their sentences.

The raid exposed the plight of workers at the plant: underpaid, physically abused, sexually harassed and extorted. The plant also employed 32 youths under the age of 18, including seven under the age of 16.

Agriprocessors was charged with more than 9,000 child labor violations and was penalized with $10 million in fines for labor violations.

Rubashkin's arrest came a day after Laura Louise Althouse, 38 and Agriprocessors human resources manager, pleaded guilty to conspiracy with Rubashkin's charges. Althouse faces two to 12 years in prison.

Aside from Rubashkin, his father and plant owner, Abraham Aaron Rubashkin, also faces serious charges from the state of Iowa.