Greeley – The first of 18 people accused of identity-related crimes after an immigration raid at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant last month has agreed to be deported as part of a plea deal.
Amalia Manuel-Pedro, identified by federal agents as a suspected illegal immigrant, pleaded guilty in Weld County District Court Thursday to forgery of a government-issued document.
Under her plea agreement, she avoids prison time if she doesn’t enter the U.S. illegally over the next three years. If she violates the agreement, she would be sentenced to two years in state prison, district attorneys’ spokeswoman Jennifer Finch said.
Hearings for the other 17 suspects were scheduled over the next few weeks on charges of identity theft, forgery or criminal impersonation. Prosecutors have said they expect many of them to accept plea agreements.
They were among 1,282 workers arrested at Swift plants in six states on Dec. 12, including 265 in Greeley. Nationwide, 246 people were held on state or federal identity-theft charges and the rest faced immigration charges.
