An El Cajon company, along with its human resources manager, has entered a guilty plea for routinely employing undocumented immigrants. San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings, alongside hiring manager Karli Buxton, admitted to this pattern of unlawful employment following a worksite enforcement action that took place on March 27 earlier this year, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
With the company functioning as a government contractor, it has agreed to forfeit a sum of $230,000, which represents proceeds gained through its illegal hiring practices. Operations manager John Washburn and others were involved in recruiting these workers, with Washburn having already pleaded guilty in June. In her role, Buxton failed to ensure new hires were authorized to work, although she was responsible for such verification since 2023. She knowingly accepted fraudulent documentation from certain employees and subsequently hired them for employment at the company. These actions allowed individuals without legal authorization to potentially have contact with sensitive military equipment.
In an effort to mitigate future violations, the company has agreed to participate in the Department of Homeland Security’s IMAGE program, which helps businesses enhance their hiring practices. They have also committed to using the E-Verify system over the next two years to verify the employment eligibility of new hires. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon commented on the significance of joining the IMAGE program, emphasizing that there are "numerous tangible benefits to enrolling your company in IMAGE and ensuring the integrity of your workforce," as per the U.S. Attorney's Office statement.
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office both emphasized that the enforcement measures taken are crucial for deterring illegal immigration, upholding employer accountability, and protecting the integrity of the U.S. workforce and national security. Gross pointed out the inherent risks to warfighter safety when exposing Navy resources and information to individuals with insufficient or fraudulent documentation.
The case against San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings and Karli Buxton, 41, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry F.B. Beshar and Michael A. Deshong, and pertains to charges of employing aliens unlawfully, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $3,000 fine per unauthorized alien.
