ADOLFO HERNANDEZ, age 29, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to one count of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, from December 2009 until August 2011, HERNANDEZ, an employee of LOUISIANA HOME ELEVATIONS, L.L.C., a Ponchatoula-based home elevation and shoring company, conspired with others to conceal, harbor, and shield from detection illegal aliens by providing them employment. HERNANDEZ worked as a crew manager, machinery operator, and employee recruiter for LOUISIANA HOME ELEVATIONS. LOUISIANA HOME ELEVATIONS as well as its owner, CHRISTOPHER BENSON, are charged as co-defendants in the seven-count indictment charging them with conspiring to harbor aliens, conspiring to launder money, engaging in monetary transactions with property or funds derived from the harboring of illegal aliens, and structuring financial transactions. BENSON and the company are scheduled for trial on August 20, 2012.

HERNANDEZ faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years, a $250,000 fine, and a $100.00 special assessment. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 23, 2012 at 9:30 A.M.

The case was investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Weir.

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