Identity theft is for the birds ... chickens to be precise

Poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride has reached a non-prosecution settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney Office for the Eastern District of Texas and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding charges of identity theft and employment of illegal aliens at five of Pilgrim's Pride's plants.

The settlement agreement requires Pilgrim's Pride to pay $4.5 million to the government over the next three years.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids of the five plants in 2007 and 2008, apprehending 338 unauthorized workers. 

Pilgrim's Pride has indicated that it will seek to enhance its voluntary compliance programs to identify unauthorized persons who seek or obtain employment with the company.