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Temp firm owner, office assistant get prison

October 01, 2009
Staffing Industry Analysts North American Daily News

A judge sentenced the owner of a temporary staffing firm and an office assistant to prison in a case involving illegal workers who gained access to secure areas at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported Wednesday.

Mary Gurin, the owner of Ideal Staffing in Bensenville IL, was sentenced Wednesday to 36 months in prison for harboring illegal aliens for financial gain, according to ICE. Gurin, 38, of Carpentersville IL, pleaded guilty May 11.

Office assistant Norinye Benitez, 26, of Franklin Park IL, pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2008, and was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison, ICE reported

Gurin employed at least 54 illegal workers between February 2006 and November 2007, and falsely certified information on security badge application forms, according to ICE. The badges allowed the workers to enter secure areas to load pallets, freight and meals for firms at O'Hare, including some commercial airlines.

Benitez helped hire between 35 and 40 illegal workers and fraudulently obtained security badges for them, according to ICE. Benitez, who is an illegal resident, will be transferred to ICE custody after completing her time in prison.

The 54 illegal workers from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador face state felony charges for possessing fraudulent identification.