Ex-legislator’s husband pleads guilty
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LAFAYETTE — An Amelia businessman who is the husband of a former state representative has pleaded guilty in federal court to harboring illegal aliens.
Lenny J. Dartez of Morgan City now faces a sentence of up to five years in jail and a possible maximum $250,000 fine for harboring aliens, according to court records. He will be sentenced in federal court Oct. 22.
As part of his plea agreement, Dartez agreed Monday to pay $45,000 in civil penalties to the Department of Homeland Security, $5,000 of which will be paid on or before sentencing with the remainder to be paid in 48 monthly payments.
Dartez, husband of Carla Dartez, a former state representative from Morgan City, was arrested in September 2007 following an anonymous complaint that he was employing illegal immigrants from Trinidad at one of his companies, Winston Service Contractors.
Dartez’s office manager, Kenneth J. Morrison, also pleaded guilty for misprision of a felony for having knowledge of a federal felony and failing to notify law enforcement of the crime and for signing the illegal alien’s paychecks.
Morrison faces a sentence of up to three years and a possible maximum fine of $250,000.
Dartez’s attorney, Mike Skinner, a former U.S. attorney, on Tuesday declined to comment on Dartez’s plea.
The investigation began after a special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement received an anonymous tip that men from Trinidad were living in a group of mobile homes in Amelia and were working at one of Dartez’s companies.
The men had entered the country on tourist visas and were not eligible to work in the country, court records stated.
On the day of their arrest, the men were working for Winston at the Allis-Chalmers pipe yard.
Dartez is a former member of the Louisiana Democratic Party’s central committee.
His wife was defeated in last year’s elections by state Rep. Joe Harrison.
Lenny J. Dartez of Morgan City now faces a sentence of up to five years in jail and a possible maximum $250,000 fine for harboring aliens, according to court records. He will be sentenced in federal court Oct. 22.
As part of his plea agreement, Dartez agreed Monday to pay $45,000 in civil penalties to the Department of Homeland Security, $5,000 of which will be paid on or before sentencing with the remainder to be paid in 48 monthly payments.
Dartez, husband of Carla Dartez, a former state representative from Morgan City, was arrested in September 2007 following an anonymous complaint that he was employing illegal immigrants from Trinidad at one of his companies, Winston Service Contractors.
Dartez’s office manager, Kenneth J. Morrison, also pleaded guilty for misprision of a felony for having knowledge of a federal felony and failing to notify law enforcement of the crime and for signing the illegal alien’s paychecks.
Morrison faces a sentence of up to three years and a possible maximum fine of $250,000.
Dartez’s attorney, Mike Skinner, a former U.S. attorney, on Tuesday declined to comment on Dartez’s plea.
The investigation began after a special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement received an anonymous tip that men from Trinidad were living in a group of mobile homes in Amelia and were working at one of Dartez’s companies.
The men had entered the country on tourist visas and were not eligible to work in the country, court records stated.
On the day of their arrest, the men were working for Winston at the Allis-Chalmers pipe yard.
Dartez is a former member of the Louisiana Democratic Party’s central committee.
His wife was defeated in last year’s elections by state Rep. Joe Harrison.
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