Tyson Foods executives charged with smuggling

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Six executives and managers of Tyson Foods Inc. were accused Wednesday of smuggling illegal Mexican immigrants into the country to work at the processing plants of the world's largest poultry company.

The federal indictment said one of the managers told an undercover agent the company would pay $200 for each illegal alien delivered.

The indictment, unsealed Wednesday, also said the managers helped the immigrants obtain false documents to work in the United States, hoping the cheap labor would help Tyson cut costs and meet production goals.

Nine-state conspiracy

The conspiracy allegedly reached 15 plants in nine states. Three of those charged were affiliated with Tyson's plant in Shelbyville.

Tyson spokesman Ken Kimbro said the charges were limited to a few managers who acted on their own. He said four have been fired and two others were placed on leave pending the outcome of the case.

"This indictment came because Tyson refused to agree to the prosecutor's outrageous financial demands," Kimbro said. The Arkansas-based company refused to elaborate on the alleged demands.

Tyson is one of the world's largest poultry, beef and pork processors, with 120,000 employees and sales last year of $23.8 billion.

The indictment came after a 2 1/2-year undercover investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

"This case represents the first time the INS has taken action against a company of Tyson's magnitude," said James Ziglar, INS commissioner.

According to prosecutors, undercover agents working for Tyson were directed by company managers to pick up immigrants at the Mexican border and take them to processing plants. They were allegedly reimbursed for "recruitment" expenses.

Prosecutors would not say how many immigrants were involved.

Robert Hash, vice president of Tyson's retail fresh division, and Gerald Lankford, a former human resources manager of the division, were charged, along with three former managers at the Shelbyville plant and a manager in Noel, Mo., who used to work in Shelbyville.

In the past, Tyson officials have downplayed the company's role in the booming Hispanic populations near its plants. Bedford County, where the Shelbyville plant is situated, is home to Tennessee's highest concentration of Hispanics, according to 2000 census figures.

Importing illegal aliens for commercial advantage can carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of the financial gain realized by Tyson Foods and its managers.