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2nd man sentenced in illegal workers operation

2nd man sentenced in illegal workers operation

A Cleveland-area man today became the second of six defendants sentenced in a multi-million-dollar conspiracy to lease illegal immigrants to hotels as cleaning contractors.

Roman Kucher, 41, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, though that may be revisited if he cooperates with prosecutors against other defendants. Already sentenced is his father, Gregory Kucher, who is serving 51 months.

Roman Kucher was recruited by his father into a network of businesses including Midwest Best Inc., of Bedford Heights, Ohio. The firms transported and housed illegal aliens, and passed them off to hotel companies as legal workers, investigators have charged. The businesses received around $6.9 million, paying the cleaning personnel nearly $5 million, and evading federal income taxes, according to the 2008 indictment.

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Mr. Kucher's attorney, John A. Bacharach, told U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry that his client was just a salaried employee for Midwest Best, earning a modest $90,000, total, over two years with the firm.

Mr. Kucher said he thought he "would bear no responsibility for what was giong on there" because of his junior status. "I was very wrong. . . . In fact, ignorance is not bliss. It is only ignorance."

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering. Judge McVerry said he must report to prison by April 19. He must also consent to the federal seizure of $15,000 from his bank accounts.

The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Picking is prosecuting the cases.

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Also charged are Roman and Alexander Litt, Yaroslav Rochniak and Yakov Shakhanov. Gregory Kucher and Mr. Rochniak are former Pittsburghers.

First Published: February 18, 2011, 7:45 p.m.

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