b'Industry NewsKansas Roofing Company Charged With Forced LaborBy Laura D. Francis - Bloomberg BNAJ une 14A Kansas City, Kan., roofingalso has been charged along with the other defendants company and its owners have beenwith conspiracy to transport, harbor and encourage the charged with forced labor and immigration- residence of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in related violations in connection with anreckless disregard of their unlawful status.alleged scheme to force undocumented workers to payKeaton, Cornolo and the companies additionally are kickbacks, Immigration and Customs Enforcementcharged with obtaining forced labor and benefit from announced June 14 (United States v. Keaton, D. Kan., No.forced labor, as well as conspiracy to commit those crimes; 2:16-cr-20051, indictment unsealed 6/14/16). transporting an alien unlawfully in the U.S.; harboring an Tommy Frank Keaton and Graziano Cornolo, theundocumented immigrant; and encouraging or inducing owners of Canadian West Inc. and RAM Metal Productsundocumented immigrants to reside in the U.S.Inc.which do business as Century RoofingusedIf convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in coercion, extortion and threats to get their undocumentedprison and a $250,000 fine on each of seven forced labor workers to pay the kickbacks, according to ICE. Thecounts; up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on idea was to cut overhead costs and give the company athe count of conspiracy to transport, harbor and encourage competitive advantage, the agency said in a statement. the residence of unauthorized immigrants; and up to five The defendants were charged in a June 8 indictment thatyears in prison and a $250,000 fine on the nine counts was unsealed June 14. of transporting, harboring and encouraging or inducing The alleged threats include threats to fire roofing crewundocumented immigrants to reside in the U.S., ICE said.leaders, ensure that they couldnt get jobs elsewhere and toThe indictment also seeks forfeiture of the proceeds of take back work trucks provided to the crew leaders, eventhe illegal activity.when they were making loan payments and paying forA representative for Century Roofing couldnt be reached insurance and maintenance on the trucks, all if they didntfor comment. The defendants currently arent represented pay kickbacks. The defendants also allegedly threatenedby counsel.to evict crew leaders from provided housing if they didntTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Tony follow orders. Harris at tharris@bna.comIn addition, Keaton and Cornolo allegedly threatenedFor More Information to turn over crew leaders to immigration authorities unless they paid the kickbacks, or if they worked for otherText of the indictment is available at http://www.companies without approval or if they or their crews didntbloomberglaw.com/public/document/USA_v_Keaton_et_meet deadlines. al_Docket_No_216cr20051_D_Company Employee Also ChargedKan_Jun_08_2016_Court_D.Alberto Diaz-Hernandez, a Century Roofing employee, www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer 25'