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A Sulphur Springs company has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today. Maintaining guilty to a felony, aiding and abetting document fraud, was 4T MFG before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson on Feb. 15, 2023.
According to information presented in court, 4T MFG is a company with shared ownership and leadership related to trailer manufacturer Load Trail. However, in 2018, a search warrant executed at Load Trail revealed multiple employees with immigration documentation that was either misleading or fraudulent. During the search, federal agents verified that 4T MFG employed individuals without legal authorization to work in the United States. In addition, at least 18 individuals had resident alien cards forged, counterfeited, altered, falsely made, procured using false claims or statements, and otherwise unlawfully obtained in violation of federal law.
Load Trail and 4TMFG, LLC, agreed to pay a forfeiture of $5 million. In addition, two prior CEOs of 4T MFG also are charged with misdemeanors for violating federal law regarding the unlawful employment of aliens. Those individuals, Cornelio Thiessen, 52, of Honey Grove, and Kevin Hiebert, 39, of Honey Grove, face up to six months in federal prison at sentencing.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McClendon.