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BOUNTIFUL — An attorney representing a Davis County general contracting business calls the charges against his clients "outrageous and inflammatory."
Late last week, seven executive members of Rubicon, a Bountiful-based company providing exterior facilities services, were charged by the Utah Attorney General's Office with multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking, a first-degree felony, including the company's owner.
In a statement released Thursday, the company says all of the executives charged have been released from the Davis County Jail on bail and will continue to manage the operations of the company while fighting the allegations of labor law violations.
"The attorney general's charges and allegations of human trafficking are outrageous and inflammatory, and Rubicon believes that everyone charged will ultimately be exonerated," Skye Lazaro, an attorney representing Rubicon, said in a prepared statement. "We are relieved the executives have been released and will be able to lead the company during this important time of the year. This will allow more than 200 employees to continue to earn a living while providing critical services to hundreds of companies."
Part of the services offered by Rubicon includes snow removal.
Prosecutors say Rubicon recruited about 150 people from Mexico to work for the company using H-2B visas.
"Once in Utah, the workers endured extremely poor working and living conditions, and unreasonable charges for housing and equipment. Pay for the workers was negligible, forcing them to rely on food banks and charity to survive," the attorney general's office said in a statement.
The charges are based on seven victims who were all recruited to work for Rubicon. Charging documents allege that each was promised full-time work but instead got paid very little, was forced to live in deplorable housing provided by Rubicon while also paying rent, and was threatened with deportation.
A statement from the company on Thursday noted that the defendants were "shocked" by the charges and that the company has acted in good faith to provide visa employees with the number of hours "stated in job orders given to the Department of Labor and individual H-2B employees."
"It is of the utmost importance to Rubicon that all employees are treated with respect and dignity," said Lazaro. "In addition to fighting the charges, Rubicon is continuing to work with legal counsel to ensure compliance with internal policies and state and federal labor laws."
The next scheduled court hearing is Jan. 3.
