PITTSBURGH, March 2 (UPI) -- A Russian immigrant was sentenced to four years, eight months in federal prison for bringing illegal aliens to the Pittsburgh area to work at illegal low wages.
Roman Litt, 60, a resident of Staten Island in New York, asked for a lenient sentence on the grounds that he had little involvement in the business, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. U.S. District Judge Terrence McVerry disagreed.
"Greed is the only explanation for your actions," McVerry said.
Roman Litt and his brother, Alexander, 46, of Miami pleaded guilty to conspiracy last year. Alexander Litt is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
Prosecutors said the brothers brought illegal immigrants into the country to work in hotels and restaurants. They were allegedly required to work up to 20 hours a day with no overtime pay.
The brothers had several ways of making money. The workers were taxed $1.50 an hour, had to pay the Litt's company for transportation to their jobs and were charged $150 a month for housing and put up in apartments where four to eight people shared the premises.
