El Cajon, California – In a dramatic turn for an El Cajon paint business, federal authorities have slammed San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings with a hefty $230,000 penalty after a high-profile immigration bust. The company’s hiring manager is also facing the music, having confessed in court to knowingly employing undocumented workers.
Back in March, law enforcement made headlines when they descended on the Magnolia Avenue warehouse, rounding up numerous individuals during the surprise raid. The business, known for coating everything from military to government vessels, suddenly found itself at the center of a major immigration probe.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, general manager John Washburn was front and center in the illegal hiring scandal. Prosecutors say Washburn not only let unauthorized workers clock in—he allegedly permitted some to live on-site inside the warehouse itself. Earlier this year, Washburn admitted guilt to systematically hiring undocumented immigrants, earning himself a sentence of one year’s probation and 50 hours of community service…