Warehouse Owner Sentenced in Federal Court

Anthony DiBenedetto, a New Haven bakery owner who operates a warehouse in Meriden, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven to three years of probation for employing illegal aliens at his New Haven business.  Judge Kravitz also ordered DiBenedetto, of North Haven, to perform 150 hours of community service. 

DiBenedetto owns and operates Rocco’s Bakery, an Italian bakerey in New Haven. According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2000 through May 2008, DiBenedetto employed at least 10 individuals at his bakeries knowing they were in the country unlawfully and were not authorized to work, according to federal officials.

Judge Kravitz will schedule a hearing within 30 days to determine if DiBenedetto will have to forfeit any assets or money to pay restitution.

Last January, DiBenedetto pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful employment of aliens.

The Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor investigate the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

DiBenedetto, according to a published report, was accused of virtually enslaving Educadorian immigrants, in the country illegally, to work at his bakeries and failed to pay them for overtime they were forced to work.