Illegal aliens hired at 11 Reno McDonald's

LAS VEGAS, July 16 (UPI) -- A McDonald's franchisee with 11 outlets in and around Reno, Nev., pleaded guilty Wednesday to hiring illegal aliens, U.S. prosecutors said.

Mack Associates Inc. will pay a $1 million fine for the violations, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release.

One current and one former top executive of the franchisee also entered guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. Charges are still pending against a third individual.

An investigation last year found that Mack Associates hired 58 illegal aliens at its McDonald's restaurants. Thirty of them were deported and the rest were granted temporary papers allowing them to remain in the United States while their cases are heard, Justice officials said.

Mack Associates pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien's unlawful residence in the United States and one count of aiding and abetting an alien to remain in the United States, both felony offenses.

Joe Gillespie, 53, of Sparks, Nev., director of operations for the company, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting an alien to remain in the United States.

Jimmy Moore, 47, the franchisee's former vice president, pleaded guilty to one felony count of inducing an illegal alien to remain in the United States.

Anntoinette Richmond, 44, the corporation's controller, has been charged with one misdemeanor count of continuing employment of an unauthorized alien.