By Trish Mehaffey

Jun. 11, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Based on 300 criminal convictions, the Agriprocessors Inc. raid May 12 was the largest criminal work site enforcement operation ever conducted in the United States, U.S. Attorney for Northern Iowa Matt Dummermuth said Tuesday.

He announced that 300 of the 389 workers detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Postville have pleaded guilty and been sentenced on federal felony charges.

One defendant from Mexico has pleaded guilty to two criminal charges and is awaiting sentencing, and four other cases, including two filed this week, are pending, Dummermuth said.

The criminal convictions were:

--233 defendants sentenced to five months in prison for use of false identification to obtain employment after ad mitting the use of another person's identity.

--30 sentenced to five months in prison for false use of a Social Security number or card after admitting use of another person's Social Security number.

--Eight sentenced to five months in prison for illegal re entry.

--Two sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison for use of false identification to obtain employment after admitting the use of another person's identity.

--21 sentenced to five years' probation for use of false identification not belonging to another person to obtain employ ment.

--Two sentenced to five years probation for false use of a Social Security number or card that did not belong to an other person.

--Four sentenced to five years' probation for illegal re entry.

Contact the writer: (319) 398-8318 or trish.mehaffey@gazcomm.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0043-25925159