5 Kentucky Contractors to Face Trial for Allegedly Employing Illegal Immigrants
AP
Nov.14, 2006
COVINGTON, Ky. — Five home contractors charged with letting illegal immigrants work on their job sites face a criminal trial later this month.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning turned down a request to delay the proceedings during a hearing Monday in Covington.

Federal agents in May raided several Fischer Homes worksites in Boone County and arrested nearly 100 people. Most were Mexican or Central American nationals who were charged with being in the United States illegally. Most have pleaded guilty to that misdemeanor charge and have been deported.

The five Fischer homes supervisors — Timothy Copsy, Douglas Witt, William Allison, Ronald Vanlandingham and David Schroeder — were charged with conspiring to harbor illegal immigrants.

Bunning said the trial would begin Nov. 27.

Lawyers for the men said it hasn't been determined whom in the company is responsible for hiring and firing workers, and whether that task is part of the responsibility of the midlevel Fischer supervisors on trial.

The company has said it has done nothing wrong. The five defendants remain working for Fischer Homes. Each faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if found guilty.