Massillon-based meat production company Fresh Mark Inc. has paid a $3.7 million penalty to the federal government in connection with its hiring manager’s involvement in an identity theft scheme and subsequent obstruction of justice.
The payment was made as the result of a non-prosecution agreement reached with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Yelwin Omar Munoz-Solis, 43, of Salem, was a hiring manager at Fresh Mark’s Salem plant.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the penalty this week , saying he conspired with others to steal the identities of U.S. citizens and gave them to job applicants. He then certified I-9 documents, which are intended to ensure that employees are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Munoz-Solis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements on immigration forms submitted to Homeland Security Investigations.
Between 2013 and 2018, Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested multiple employees who used stolen identities to get jobs with Fresh Mark.