Feds Investigating Company That Supplies Immigrant Workers for Charleroi Meatpacking Plant

Charleroi has become a flash point in the presidential campaign, with former President Donald Trump saying Haitians are “invading” the Washington County town.

Action News Investigates has learned federal authorities are investigating a company that supplies immigrant workers to a major Charleroi employer.

Fourth Street Foods in Charleroi makes prepared meals that are sold in grocery stores across the country.

It employs 700 immigrants from 41 countries, many of them Haitians.

Getro Bernabe, a Haitian immigrant who used to work at Fourth Street Foods, is now Charleroi’s liaison with the Haitian community.

He said the immigrants at Fourth Street “work legally. They have their work permit. They have everything.”

Many of Fourth Street’s workers are actually employed by a contractor, Prosperity Services. Prosperity also transports workers in vans, which can be seen throughout Charleroi.

In court records, federal investigators said Prosperity “knowingly paid undocumented non-citizen employees with cash” and “transported and housed undocumented non-citizens for employment purposes.”

Earlier this year, the feds seized nearly $1 million in cash from Prosperity and two men affiliated with the company, including Andy Ha, the company president.

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