Costa Rican man will serve 2 years in federal prison for hiring illegal workers

A Costa Rican man convicted for harboring illegal workers by employing them as roofers in Iowa and money laundering was sentenced in federal court Thursday.

Luis Trejos, 45, who recently lived in Newnan, Ga., was sentenced in U.S. District Court to two years in prison after pleading guilty in December 2012 to one count of harboring and transporting illegal immigrants and one count of money laundering.

According to evidence presented in the case, Trejos had worked as a roofing contractor for several years in various communities across the country under various company names. In March 2012, Trejos agreed to perform roofing work for an Eastern Iowa Construction in Cedar Rapids and arranged for workers to come to work for him in Iowa.These roofing workers were not legally authorized to work or live in the United States, according to court records.

Trejos also hired other workers in Iowa who were not authorized to work in the United States, according to court records. He admitted to knowing that he violated the law and that he didn't take any action to verify the legal status of the workers. Trejos also performed similar work for a Kentucky company in 2012. 

During the sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Linda Reade noted the broad scope of Trejos's conduct and the role he played in organizing and managing the criminal activity.