Dubuque Man Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements To ICE

By Trish Mehaffey, Reporter

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By Eric Stidman

Story Created: Apr 5, 2012 at 5:29 PM CDT

Story Updated: Apr 5, 2012 at 5:48 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A Dubuque man who lied to a Homeland Security agent, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court.

Richard Weber, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false material statement to an agent of the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to a plea agreement, Weber admitted he lied to the agent who was searching for an illegal immigrant employed by Weber’s concrete business. In February 2010, Weber told an ICE agent the worker had been laid off about two months earlier, and that Weber had not talked to the man since that time.

The illegal worker was still employed by Weber the day Weber was interviewed, and they had spoken that day, according to the plea agreement. The illegal worker then fled the area and avoided arrest by ICE.

Weber faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing hasn’t been set at this time. Weber remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing.