Columbia Farms Added to Federal Indictment of Greenville's Plant Alleged Hiring Violations

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Columbia Farms, Inc., was named in a 50-count Second Superseding Indictment charging federal violations involving the hiring of illegal aliens in its Greenville, South Carolina, processing plant. The company joins two of its employees, Human Resources Manager Elaine C. Crump and Complex Manager Barry Cronic, who were previously indicted by the federal grand jury for criminal violations related to their respective hiring activities.

The 29 charges naming Columbia Farms allege that through Crump and Cronic, Columbia Farms “did knowingly continue to employ the aliens listed below, in the United States, knowing such aliens had become unauthorized with respect to such employment on the dates set forth below....” The Indictment then lists 29 employees who worked at the facility, despite the alleged knowledge of Crump, Cronic, and Columbia Farms that the 29 were unauthorized by federal law to be employed.

Crump is named in all 50 counts, including 20 felony counts charging her with instructing employees of the plant’s human resources department to falsify employment documents required by federal authorities in the hiring of non-citizens, and one misdemeanor count of knowingly hiring unauthorized aliens. Cronic is named in 30 misdemeanor counts, including one count of knowingly hiring unauthorized aliens. Crump and Cronic face potential prison sentences and fines, while Columbia Farms could be fined if convicted.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.