OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Back in February, a company in O'Neill, Nebraska filed guilty for its "role in a conspiracy to harbor undocumented aliens." On Thursday, it was announced O'Neil Ventures Inc. was fined $400,000, which is due immediately, by a federal judge in Nebraska.
In addition to the fine, O'Neill Ventures, Inc. will be placed on a probationary period which will allow Homeland Security to review and inspect the company to make sure it's no longer engaged in illegal hiring practices.
The fine exceeded the recommended sentencing guidelines range of $70,000 to $140,000. A judge decided the higher fine was justified due to the conditions at the tomato plant for its workers.
When it was raided back in 2018, investigators discovered about 70 percent of its workforce was comprised of undocumented immigrants.
