Four individuals from the Yakima and Tri-Cities region have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to fraudulently obtaining H-2A temporary work visas and unlawfully transporting more than 500 foreign laborers from Mexico into Eastern Washington.
Francisco Rodriguez Martel, Esmeralda Rodriguez, Erica Cisneros—all from the Tri-Cities area—and Giovanna Sierra Carrillo of Yakima face a fifty-one count superseding indictment. The indictment was returned in Yakima on February 11, 2026.
According to court documents, Rodriguez-Martel, Cisneros, and Carillo are accused of conspiring to secure H-2A visas under false pretenses for agricultural work at about ten farms in Yakima and Benton Counties during the 2022–2024 crop seasons. Their business operated as “Harvest Plus.” The indictment alleges they submitted fraudulent paperwork to multiple federal agencies—including the United States Department of Labor, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and United States Department of State—misrepresenting job locations, hours, wages, and other employment conditions.
The indictment further claims that after recruiting workers from Mexico with promises of legal employment including adequate housing and food, many laborers instead faced unauthorized domestic work assignments. Workers reportedly experienced unpaid overtime, extreme heat without clean water access, exposure to pesticides without protection, overcrowded housing lacking kitchen facilities, and illegal deductions for food and housing.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that Rodriguez-Martel and Esmeralda Rodriguez threatened to contact immigration authorities if workers reported these practices. There are also allegations that Rodriguez-Martel threatened workers’ physical safety to discourage them from contacting state officials about their working conditions.
Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito commented: “The Office of Inspector General is unwavering in our commitment to protect the integrity of the Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Certification programs. When bad actors exploit vulnerable workers or attempt to game the system, we investigate, we expose, and we hold them accountable. At the same time, we safeguard the U.S. employers who follow the law and play by the rules. We will continue working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure these programs serve legitimate labor needs — not criminal enterprises. Fraud will not be tolerated. Accountability is not optional.”
Pete Serrano, First Assistant United States Attorney stated: “The importance of this case cannot be understated,” said Pete Serrano, First Assistant United States Attorney. “When the United States Attorney’s office receives credible information from investigating agencies that stand as the basis for immigration fraud, we will charge these cases. The United States Attorney’s office will protect these vulnerable victims and the integrity of a vital federal programs, including the H-2A program which is critical to Eastern Washington’s agricultural successes” stated Serrano.
Authorities emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney R. Pratten, Jeremy J. Kelley, and Tyler H.L. Tornabene are prosecuting this case following investigations by both the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.
