From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida
Tentlogix, Inc., a Florida corporation headquartered in Fort Piece, Florida and three of its corporate officers, Gary Hendry, Dennis Birdsall and Kent Hughes of Martin County, have been charged by indictment with conspiring to conceal and harbor aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage. Hendry and Birdsall are also charged with making false statements to a federal agency.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
According to the indictment, beginning as early as January 2016, and continuing through March 2018, TentLogix, Hendry, and Birdsall recruited and employed aliens to work for TentLogix knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that many of the aliens had entered and remained in the United States unlawfully, and were not authorized to work in the United States (Case No. 19-14035-CR-ROSENBERG/MAYNARD). During the course of the conspiracy, a large portion of TentLogix’s workforce in the Southern District of Florida was comprised of aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States. While TentLogix was being investigated by HSI, Hendry, Birdsall, and Hughes devised a scheme to “transfer” the aliens employed by TentLogix to KH Services, LLC, a company owned by Hughes, so that they no longer appeared on TentLogix’s payroll. Hughes formed KH Services, LLC for the sole purpose of concealing, harboring, and shielding the aliens employed by TentLogix from HSI’s investigation. Birdsall directed wire transfers to be sent from TentLogix’s bank account to KH Services, LLC’s bank account on a bi-weekly basis to cover the payroll expenses for the aliens who worked for TentLogix but were purportedly employed by KH Services, LLC. Between May 2017 and March 2018, TentLogix transferred over $3,000,000 to KH Services, LLC in 23 separate wire transfers for the express purpose of paying aliens employed by TentLogix who were not authorized to work in the United States.
The indictment further alleges that in 2016, TentLogix generated more than $21,000,000 in gross receipts and $10,000,000 in gross profit from its business operations. In 2017, Tentlogix allegedly generated more than $36,000,000 in gross receipts and $14,000,000 in gross profit from its business operations. During the course of the conspiracy, a large portion of Tentlogix’s workforce in the Southern District of Florida was comprised of aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.
If convicted of the conspiracy charge, Hendry, Birdsall, and Hughes face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the loss or twice the gain caused by the offense. TentLogix faces a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the loss or twice the gain caused by the offense. If convicted of making false statements to a federal agency, Hendry and Birdsall face up to 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the loss or twice the gain caused by the offense.
An indictment merely contains allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of HSI in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
