The former owner of a Tennessee meat processing plant that was the site of a massive immigration raid where nearly 100 people were arrested last year was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
James Brantley, who previously owned the Southeastern Provision meat processing plant in Bean Station, Tennessee, was also given three years of probation upon release from prison at his sentencing Wednesday. Brantley pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion, wire fraud and employing undocumented immigrants.
“I cannot impose a probationary sentence in this case,” Senior U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer said Wednesday, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. “In my view, to do so would undermine respect for our court system and create a situation where people would draw the conclusion that a certain class of people are treated more leniently than others.”
Brantley dodged nearly $1.3 million in taxes, according to court records.
