Seaboard Foods Settles Allegations, Will Pay $1 Million

(AP) GUYMON, Okla. – The operator of a pork processing plant in the Oklahoma Panhandle will pay $1 million to settle allegations that it hired workers who were in the U.S. illegally.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Seaboard Corporation reached the settlement Nov. 1. Funds will be divided between ICE and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office.

ICE says Seaboard allegedly employed unauthorized workers between 2007 and 2012 and didn’t complete employment eligibility forms. In addition, ICE says health care claims by some Seaboard employees enrolled in a private health insurance plan provided by Seaboard were allegedly submitted to Oklahoma’s Medicaid Program during the same period.

ICE says Seaboard cooperated during the investigation and implemented compliance measures.