Man sentenced for providing hundreds of illegal workers to ag businesses

A man pleaded guilty in a Lincoln courtroom to conspiring to harbor aliens. 

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Juan Pablo Sanchez-Delgado, 40, of Mexico, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31. 

Sanchez-Delgado admitted to conspiring with supervisors at multiple agricultural corporations to supply those companies with alien workers who were not authorized to work or remain in the United States. 

The corporations contracted with Sanchez-Delgado in an attempt to avoid criminal responsibilities for labor violations. 

Sanchez-Delgado, an alien himself, provided hundreds of illegal workers, and was paid by the companies. 

He also took money from the alien workforce by purporting to withhold state and federal employment taxes and converted this money to his own use. 

The aliens were also required to cash their paychecks at one of Sanchez-Delgado’s businesses and pay a $50 to $75 check cashing fee. 

Sanchez-Delgado generated approximately $5,648,519 through this scheme.

As part of his plea agreement with the government, Sanchez-Delgado agreed to forfeit four residences in Las Vegas, Nevada, with more than $1,000,000 in equity.

He will further forfeit bank accounts and cash totaling more than $178,000.

The real estate and cash were proceeds of the harboring conspiracy.

Conspiring to harbor aliens, when done for financial gain, is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.