NORFOLK -- A judge sentenced owners of a Newport News fishing company for hiring illegals Wednesday.

On November 19th, 2007, William Francis Peabody, 64 and Yvonne Michelle Peabody, 35, pleaded guilty to unlawfully employing aliens at their Newport News fishing company, Peabody Corporation. The pair agreed to pay fines and forfeiture in illegal profits.

By the time of their sentencing, the pair already remitted $6.9 million, according to Jim Rybicki of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Court records say the Peabodys employed at least 126 illegal aliens on 332 of their commercial fishing ship voyages between 2003 and 2006. On at least 72 occassions, the illegal aliens used fake Social Security cards in connection with their employment, court records add.

Mr. Peabody received three years of probation, including five months of home confinement. Ms. Peabody faces three months in jail, followed by four months of home confinement.