UNITED STATES ATTORNEY JOYCE WHITE VANCE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			CONTACT: STACY CRANE
	JULY 29 , 2009			PHONE: (205) 244-2001
	www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln			FAX: (205) 244-2171

ALABASTER WOMAN SENTENCED FOR HARBORING AND EMPLOYING ILLEGAL ALIENS

            BIRMINGHAM, AL - United States Attorney Joyce White Vance of the Northern District of Alabama and Michael A. Holt, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) announced that BEVERLY LINAN was sentenced today for harboring and employing illegal aliens.  United States District Judge Inge P. Johnson sentenced Linan to three years probation.  Judge Johnson also ordered Linan to forfeit more than $75,000 in cash, and eleven firearms.  More than $10,000 and the property where she operated her business has already been forfeited to the government in other proceedings.  Linan owned and operated Rodriguez Construction Company with offices in Alabaster.  Rodriguez Construction did masonry work on jobs throughout the Jefferson and Shelby County area. 

            On March 31, 2009, Linan, 38, of Alabaster, Alabama plead guilty to a three-count indictment before Judge Johnson in Birmingham. Count One charged Linan with harboring illegal aliens.  Count Two charged Linan with knowingly employing illegal aliens.  Count Three charged Linan in a forfeiture count to recover profits made from employing illegal aliens. 
           
            United States Attorney Joyce White Vance said, “since pleading guilty Linan has been using the E-Verify system to demonstrate that she has not hired any more undocumented or illegal aliens in her business.  E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.  E-Verify is free and voluntary and is the best means available for determining employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security Numbers.”

            “The firearms forfeited in this case will be destroyed and the property where she had previously operated her business will be auctioned,” Vance said.
            This case was investigated by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Alabaster Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael W. Whisonant prosecuted this case.

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