Jefferson County Man Guilty of Hiring Illegal Immigrants

Robert Brake of Byrnes Mill, MO, pleaded guilty to charges of hiring illegal immigrants.

And his St. Louis-based company Brake Landscaping & Lawncare, Inc., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, said a news release from the U.S. Attorneys office.

Court documents said Brake illegally sub-contracted H-2B workers to an associate between March 2007 and February 2010. Brake made a profit of more then $2 per hour per worker.

The indictment also alleges that Brake created, or incorporated, a second company, Brake Snow and Ice Removal, to artificially create a need for temporary or seasonal workers.

Brake Snow and Ice Removal was essentially the same company as Brake Landscaping, the indictment said.

The H-2B non-immigrant visa program allows U.S. employers to hire immigrants to  perform temporary, non-agricultural services on a one-time, seasonal, peak-load or intermittent basis, the U.S. Attorney's news release said.

There is a limit on the number of immigrants who may receive H-2B visa status during each government fiscal year, the news release said.

Brake will be sentenced on Sept. 13. He pleaded guilty in June, the news release said.

The conspiracy count has a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000, the news release said.

The misdemeanor count is punishable of up to six months in prison.