Pennsylvania man, operator of illegal alien employment business sentenced to federal prison

SCRANTON, Pa. – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced Friday to one year in federal prison for operating an illegal alien employment business. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Rama Putra, 32, residing in Scranton, also faces possible deportation from the U.S.

The HSI investigation revealed that Putra engaged in a conspiracy to promote and conceal the profits of a temporary employment agency known as "H&Y Staffing Inc.," operating out of a Scranton address. The business recruited, employed, and transported an illegal work force.

The company provided dozens of illegal temporary employees to businesses in the Scranton area over a period of several years. Putra provided transportation for the illegal workers, paid the illegal work force in cash on a weekly basis, and cashed checks from local businesses at check cashing services located in Philadelphia as part of the scheme to conceal and promote the underlying criminal activity.

Putra was indicted in October 2012 and pleaded guilty in January 2013 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and the employment and transportation of illegal aliens.