Feds Accuse SC Poultry Plant Of Illegal Hiring

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Federal authorities say a South Carolina poultry processing plant knew its managers were hiring dozens of illegal immigrants at a facility raided in October.

U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins on Thursday added Columbia Farms Inc. to an indictment that already accuses two of the plant’s managers of illegally hiring at a facility in Greenville.

The managers had been charged with knowingly harboring illegal immigrants and telling employees to use falsified documents. The plant now faces fines if convicted of knowingly hiring and employing illegal immigrants.

North Carolina-based House of Raeford, which owns the plant, said Thursday it doesn’t knowingly hire illegal immigrants and is cooperating with investigators.

The October raid led to 300 arrests.