PITTSBURG, TEXAS — Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Texas and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency have reached an agreement related to a two-year investigation into identity theft and the employment of individuals not authorized to work in the United States. As part of the agreement, Pilgrim’s Pride will pay the federal government $4.5 million over a three year period.

In 2007 and 2008, ICE conducted worksite enforcement and identify-theft investigations at five Pilgrim’s Pride locations. As a result of the investigations, approximately 338 unauthorized workers were arrested.

The agreement completes the government’s investigation and no civil or criminal charges were filed against the company. Pilgrim’s Pride emphasized that the settlement does not constitute any admission of misconduct.