Arizona Water park owners investigated for hiring illegal immigrants

The following is a press release from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

PHOENIX -- After receiving information that the valley’s largest outdoor entertainment company may be knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Human Smuggling/Employer Sanctions Squad began an investigation four months ago which today led to the execution of two search warrants and the arrests of nine employees of Golfland Entertainment.

Golfland/Waterworld/Big Surf/Sunsplash is a valley-wide outdoor entertainment conglomerate with locations in Mesa and north Phoenix.

The Sheriff’s Employer Sanction squad arrested employees for identity theft and using forged documents to obtain employment. Information on those arrested came from a former employee of Waterworld who told Sheriff’s detectives that the owners of the water parks are knowingly employing illegal aliens.

Detectives also served search warrants were also executed on the company’s two locations allowing them to seize company records.

According to the Sheriff, his detectives have already obtained personnel records from Golfland Entertainment which points to the real possibility that as many as 104 of the 198 employees listed as working there have potential discrepancies with social security numbers such as more than one name associated with those social security numbers.

Arpaio said today, “We will examine Golfland’s employee documents thoroughly with the ultimate goal being to determine whether the owners of this company are willfully hiring illegal aliens which is now a violation of Arizona law.”

Andrew Thomas added, “The County Attorney’s Office will review the evidence gathered and later determine if the employer violated the Legal Arizona Workers Act. It’s important for all employers to remember that undercutting wages using illegal labor is wrong and against the law.”

ORIGINAL STORY:
PHOENIX -- Maricopa County sheriff's deputies made a number of arrests relating to the employer sanctions law at two Valley water parks on Tuesday. Search warrants were served Tuesday morning at Golfland Entertainment/Waterworld in north Phoenix and Mesa, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Employer files were seized to further investigate whether owners of the entertainment complex are knowingly hiring illegal aliens.