Rochester Brother And Sister Plead Guilty To Harboring Undocumented Restaurant Workers

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
                
BUFFALO, N.Y.-Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that J. Guadalupe Hernandez, 33, and his sister, Felisita Hernandez, 32, both of Farmington, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, harboring an illegal alien, and pattern and practice before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that between February 2014 and December 2015, the defendants conspired to conceal aliens working at El Jimador Mexican Restaurant in Farmington, NY, and Molcajetes Mexican Grill, in Greece, NY, in violation of the immigration laws of the United States. El Jimador was owned by defendant Guadalupe Hernandez while Molcajetes was owned by Felisita Hernandez.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendants provided apartment housing in Farmington and Geneva for some of the undocumented workers. In addition to providing housing, Guadalupe and Felisita Hernandez paid the aliens in cash in order further to conceal their employment.

The pleas are the culmination of an investigation on the part of Immigration and Custom Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sentencing is set for January 19, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Larimer.