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05/27/2006Two get 60 days in jailIllegal workers got contract jobs at Traverse resortGRAND RAPIDS — Two people accused of helping illegal immigrants get contract jobs at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa were sentenced to federal prison. Miguel Martinez-Garcia and Ofmara Maltos-Trevino, both of Traverse City, were each sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Scoville to 60 days in prison. Martinez-Garcia and Maltos-Trevino accepted deals this month to plead guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the unlawful employment of aliens. They were indicted by a federal grand jury after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in February netted more than 20 illegal contract workers at Grand Traverse Resort. The contract workers were employed through Rosenbaum-Cunningham International Inc., of Florida. A federal grand jury in March indicted Martinez-Garcia and Maltos-Trevino for unlawfully employing aliens and using fraudulent immigration documents. As part of the deal, both Martinez-Garcia and Maltos-Trevino must "fully" cooperate with other federal agencies. The Resort raid was triggered by information agents received from Juanita "Janie" Schlagel, of Williamsburg, a former state migrant-services worker with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth at a Michigan Works office on Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Schlagel provided information after she allegedly was caught selling Social Security numbers and other documents in a scheme uncovered in spring 2005. Schlagel told investigators that Santiago Echaniz, 41, formerly of Traverse City, worked for RCI Inc., by providing the resort with "numerous illegal aliens." Echaniz has repeatedly denied the allegations. Neither he nor Schlagel have been criminally charged. Assistant U.S. attorney Hagen Frank said the investigation continues. See related stories:
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