NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

OCTOBER 5, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEXAS MAN SENTENCED FOR HIRING ILLEGAL ALIENS

            SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Texas man was sentenced in federal court today for hiring illegal aliens.

             Francisco Sandoval, 47, of Garland, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge James C. England this morning to two years of probation. Sandoval earlier forfeited to the government a 1998 Ford Econoline van and $1,124 that had been seized by law enforcement officers.

             On April 4, 2007, Sandoval pleaded guilty to hiring 10 illegal aliens as part of a pattern or practice of hiring illegal aliens for employment in his telephone directory distribution business. Sandoval used illegal aliens to distribute telephone directories in various locations throughout the United States. Sandoval was in the process of transporting the illegal aliens through Missouri on Interstate 44 when he was arrested on May 31, 2005.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robyn L. McKee. It was investigated by the Webster County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.