U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that M.D. BASCIANI AND SONS, INC., a corporation domiciled in Pennsylvania, was charged today in a one-count Bill of Information with harboring illegal aliens at the Red Hill Mushroom Farm in Independence, Louisiana, which is leased by the defendant.
According to the Bill of Information, M.D. BASCIANI AND SONS, INC. concealed, harbored, and shielded from detection several of its employees at the Red Hill Mushroom Farm, knowing that such employees were aliens unauthorized to work in the United States. The farm’s manager and another of its supervisory employees have already pled guilty to a pattern and practice of employing illegal aliens at the farm.
If convicted, M.D. BASCIANI AND SONS, INC. faces a sentence of probation of not less than one year or more than five years, and a maximum fine of $500,000. If convicted, the defendant also faces the forfeiture of its gross proceeds from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller is in charge of the prosecution.
M.D. Basciani and Sons, Inc. Bill of Information (1.15 MB)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
