Federal officials want to send a message about employing illegal aliens in the case of a fast food franchise that employed 56 illegal aliens at its restaurants.

Two executives and the franchisee for 11 McDonald’s restaurants in the Reno, NV area pleaded guilty to felony immigration charges stemming from raids last fall.

Mack Associates, Inc., pleaded guilty to two felony counts of encouraging an alien’s unlawful residence in the United States and aiding and abetting an alien to remain in the U.S.

Authorities charged that Mack Associates employed known illegal aliens and furnished them with names and Social Security numbers belonging to others.

Mack will pay $1 million in fines, the maximum allowed by law for the two violations. The company will also be on probation for one year.

The franchise’s former vice-president, Jimmy Moore, pleaded guilty to one felony count of inducting an illegal alien to remain in the U.S. Moore faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced.

Mack’s controller, Anntoinette Richmond, has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of continuing employment of an unauthorized alien.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Nevada and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are using this case as a warning to other employers. “Companies and their managers who engage in such conduct are on notice that violations will be prosecuted and that the criminal penalties can be significant,” said U.S. Attorney for Nevada, Gregory Brower.

Among others facing charges: HR Managers

Since October 2007, ICE has made 937 criminal arrests in connection with worksite enforcement investigations.

Of those cases, 99 involve owners, managers, supervisors or human resources employees who face charges ranging from harboring to knowingly hiring illegal aliens.

During the same time period, ICE made more than 3,500 administrative arrests for immigration violations in connection with worksite investigations.

In FY 2007, ICE collected more than $31 million in criminal fines, restitution and civil judgments.

ICE was created in March 2003 by combining the law enforcement arms of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service and the former U.S. Customs Service to tackle immigration law violations.

Tags: illegal alien, immigration, jail