...
By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A Michigan couple have been arrested and charged in a sweeping federal case that alleges they employed more than 240 undocumented workers in their plumbing business, generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
Moises Orduna-Rios, 36, and Raquel Orduna-Rios, 30, both of Plymouth, are facing multiple counts, including conspiracy, transporting and harboring unauthorized aliens for commercial gain, employing unauthorized workers, and money laundering, after they were arrested on Tuesday, according to a press release by the Department of Justice (DOJ). All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
Newsweek has contacted the DOJ for comment via email.
Read More on News
Why It Matters
The case comes as the Trump administration reiterates its plans to focus more attention on employers who hire workers without legal status. Officials have said workplace enforcement will increase, and the government is pushing forward with plans to deport millions of migrants without legal status.
...
What To Know
The couple’s company, Orduna Plumbing Inc., has operations in Michigan, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York.
Prosecutors allege that between January 2022 and December 2024, the company employed around 253 individuals, but only six were legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Moises Orduna-Rios serves as president of Orduna Plumbing, and Raquel Orduna-Rios holds the roles of treasurer and secretary, the feds said.
The couple collected the workers’ passports and housed many of them in overcrowded homes and hotel rooms, the DOJ said.
A financial review cited in the charging documents estimates that from January 2022 through August 2025, Orduna Plumbing generated roughly $74 million in customer revenue.
U.S. Border Patrol and ICE arrested 23 unauthorized workers tied to the company in New York and North Carolina, prosecutors said.
Authorities also say they uncovered WhatsApp and messaging communications between Moises Orduna-Rios and some of the workers, with discussions ranging from payroll and credit-card use to advice on avoiding detection by law enforcement.
"Gentlemen, with all the controversy that is going on, its better to get ready, drive the speed limit, limit yourselves going to the store, only do minimal running of errands, and do not have any gatherings such as barbecues," the message reads.
A search warrant executed in the summer of 2025 at a property in Rochester, New York, reportedly found nine men living in cramped conditions in a "sparsely furnished" house, the DOJ said.
Meanwhile, investigators say payments to unauthorized workers were made via multiple bank accounts controlled by the couple.
Moises and Raquel Orduna-Rios made their initial court appearance on Tuesday in the Eastern District of Michigan and were released on conditions.
What Happens Next
They are scheduled to appear in the Western District of New York on December 2, 2025.
If convicted, the couple could face up to 10 years in prison, and prosecutors say fines could be calculated based on $3,000 for each migrant without work authorization.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines