After pleading guilty to insurance fraud, employing immigrantswho are in the country illegally, and filing false tax documents,the owner of a southwest Ohio roofing company now faces between 2and 5 years in prison.

As if these charges weren't serious enough, documents filed in aDayton, Ohio court suggest Williams Brothers Roofing and Sidingactively participated in human trafficking. According toinvestigators, Gregory Oldiges, the 55-year-old proprietor ofWilliams Brothers, paid liaisons to bring in migrant workers fromTexas illegally. Oldiges would then pay those workers a fraction ofthe rate extended to its regular roofing crews.

Greg Lockhart, Oldiges' attorney, describes the situation as“unfortunate” but indicative of a larger trend. Lockhart contendsthat “many roofing companies use immigrants who are in the countryillegally as laborers.”

While U.S. Attorney Vipal Patel expressed the need to ensurethat other contractors act in accordance with all applicableemployment laws, he told the Dayton DailyNews that this particular case extends well beyond hiringillegal workers.

“This is somewhat unique, because of multiple [concurrent]illegal activities,” he explains. “It has raised the specter, and[the] question of what other companies in the construction businessare doing in our community.”

What Lockhart failed to point out is the FBI investigation,arrest, and ensuing court proceedings resulted from manyyears of shady dealings at Williams Brothers. Between 2009 and2012, the roofing company invoiced customers about $11.75 millionfor work performed by immigrants who were in the country illegally,according to court documents. In total, Williams Brothers paid theworkers $1.7 million, a fraction of the billed amount.Additionally, Oldiges recouped the money he paid to smuggle some ofthe workers by withholding money to the crews.

After years of taking advantage of insurers, consumers and thosehe stripped of a voice, Oldiges finally did something mildlyrespectable: pleaded guilty to federal charges on Tuesday, Jan. 7.The court released Oldiges with the stipulation that he wouldsurrender his passport and then return to court for sentencing onApril 8, 2014.

Source: Dayton Daily News