Twin Peaks Company Pleads Guilty To Hiring Unauthorized Workers

WICHITA, KAN. – Le Grande Tetons, LLC, the company that owned and operated the Twin Peaks bar and restaurant in east Wichita, has pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern or practice of employing aliens not authorized to work in the United States, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Grissom said the guilty plea was entered by a lawyer for the company in federal court Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer. Pursuant to a plea agreement in the case, Judge Birzer imposed a fine of $50,000. Companies or persons who engage in a pattern or practice of employing unauthorized aliens can be fined up to $3,000 for each person so employed.

Le Grande Tetons, LLC, has sold or is in the process of selling its Twin Peaks location and franchise, which is at 8310 E. 21st St.

According to plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s office has agreed not to pursue any additional charges against the owners, current employees or former employees of Le Grande Tetons, LLC, with the exception of two former management employees who remain under investigation.

“The word is getting out: Employers who knowingly hire foreign workers who are not authorized to work in the United States face criminal prosecution,” Grissom said. “I blame employers for this practice, not the employees. It isn’t very hard to figure out whether someone from another country has permission to work in the United States.”

According to the plea agreement, the Twin Peaks east location underwent an I-9 employment authorization form inspection by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in September 2013 that identified more than 20 unauthorized workers employed primarily in the east Twin Peaks kitchen area. A Twin Peaks manager agreed to fire the employees immediately, but HSI received word several months later than many of the same employees had been rehired. Federal search warrants were executed at both Wichita Twin Peaks locations in July.

Grissom praised HSI for its investigation of the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson for its prosecution. Other agencies, including the Wichita Police Department, the Kansas Department of Labor, the Kansas Department of Revenue and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General also assisted in the case.