Press Releases
TWO ALLEGED HUMAN RESOURCE EMPLOYEES ARRESTED AT AGRIPROCESSORS IN POSTVILLE
September 9, 2008
Contact: Peter Deegan, C.J. Williams, Matt Cole
United States Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth announced today that LAURA ALTHOUSE, age 38, from Postville, Iowa, and KARINA FREUND, age 29, from Fayette, Iowa, were arrested this morning by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents at the Agriprocessors, Inc. plant in Postville, Iowa. ALTHOUSE has been charged with aiding and abetting document fraud, aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to harbor undocumented aliens. FREUND has been charged with aiding and abetting the harboring of undocumented aliens. The charges are contained in Complaints unsealed today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
ALTHOUSE’s Complaint alleges she performs human resource and payroll duties at Agriprocessors in Postville. The Complaint alleges that, on Sunday afternoon and evening, May 11, 2008, an Agriprocessors supervisor was in the human resources department assisting employees with the completion of new applications, in new names, and using newly acquired false identification documents. The Complaint alleges ALTHOUSE was assisting in the process, knowing that some of the “applicants” were current employees who worked in the supervisor’s department.
FREUND’s Complaint alleges she works in the human resource department at Agriprocessors in Postville. According to the Complaint, several former, undocumented alien employees at Agriprocessors have implicated FREUND in helping them obtain false identification documents.
ALTHOUSE and FREUND appeared this afternoon in federal court in Cedar Rapids. ALTHOUSE was released on bond. FREUND was ordered temporarily detained until arrangements could be made for her release on electronic monitoring. A preliminary examination has been scheduled for ALTHOUSE and FREUND on September 24, 2008, at 2:00 p.m.
If convicted on all charges, ALTHOUSE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years’ and a possible maximum sentence of 22 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, special assessments of $300, and supervised release of 7 years following any imprisonment. FREUND faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and supervised release of 3 years following any imprisonment.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter Deegan, C.J. Williams, and Matt Cole and were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
