YAKIMA, Wash. – Two Yakima residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for exploiting over 100 temporary foreign agricultural workers. Cesar Jamie Rebolledo Diaz and Socorro Ramos face multiple charges, including forced labor and victim tampering.
According to the press release, the indictment alleges that Rebolledo Diaz and Ramos illegally transported 103 foreign workers from Mexico under false pretenses. They promised jobs at Marquez Farms LLC with adequate housing, food, and pay. However, upon arrival in the Eastern District of Washington, some workers discovered there was no work, while others worked without pay.
The indictment further claims that Rebolledo Diaz and Ramos used overcrowded school buses lacking air conditioning and water to transport the workers. When state authorities began investigating, the defendants allegedly instructed the workers to remain silent and report anyone cooperating with investigators.
“My office is committed to seeking justice for these vulnerable victims and protecting the integrity of a federal program vital to the success of our agricultural sector,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano.
Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito emphasized the commitment to protect the integrity of the Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Certification programs. “Fraud will not be tolerated. Accountability is not optional,” he said.
The United States Marshal Service, along with other law enforcement agencies, is currently working to execute arrest warrants for Rebolledo Diaz and Ramos. The charges are accusations, and evidence must be presented to a federal trial jury to determine guilt or innocence.
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