Federal officials recently reported that they have been conducting a major investigation into companies that they believe were part of a scheme involving immigrants. One of these companies, the pork-producing Christensen Farms, is located in Minnesota. The individuals being targeted by federal agents in Minnesota are said to have committed the crimes of both money laundering and fraud.
According to authorities, the businesses being investigated knowingly hired immigrants and then mistreated them. The immigrants who were reportedly taken advantage of were brought into the United States illegally. As part of the investigation, authorities served search warrants at Christensen Farms’ Minnesota headquarters and at its facility used for truck washing in a separate Minnesota city. Warrants were also served at the slaughterhouse’s producer plant in another state.
In the other state, several other businesses are under investigation as well. These include a tomato grower, a restaurant, a grocery store and a farm. Officials with Christensen Farms stated that their company was cooperating federal agents.
Individuals who are accused of fraud in Minnesota have the right to proceed to trial to fight these serious charges. At trial, the prosecution must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt before any convictions can be handed down. This high standard is in place with the goal of preventing innocent people from being convicted of crimes they did not commit. An attorney will scrutinize the evidence that prosecutors intended to present at trial, with the goal of finding weaknesses therein. In this type of criminal case, the attorney’s ultimate goal is to achieve the most personally favorable outcome for the defendant given the nature of the circumstances surrounding his or her arrest.