Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 1 of 10 PageID 1

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1 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 1 of 10 PageID 1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS DALLAS DIVISION JAIME VARELA and YESICA WIEGERT, individually and on behalf of similarly situated individuals, Plaintiffs, Civil No. -v- DAVID BENITEZ GONZALES, ANA CRISTINA BENITEZ, INTELLIGENT MEXICAN MARKETING, INC, AND MARKETING AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, LLC Defendants. PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION TO THE HONORABLE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: NOW COME Jaime Varela and Yesica Wiegert, individually and on behalf of similarly situated individuals, and file this, Plaintiffs Original Complaint Class Action. I. SUMMARY 1. Plaintiffs seek a remedy for themselves and others similarly situated under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Plaintiffs, and similarly situated employees, worked for Defendants as sales representatives, merchandisers and marketers. Defendants paid Plaintiffs and similarly situated PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 1

2 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 2 of 10 PageID 2 employees, severely depressed wages due to violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 2. Defendants unlawfully depressed Plaintiffs wages by knowingly hiring illegal aliens; encouraging or inducing illegal aliens to come to the U.S.; bringing aliens to the U.S.; transporting illegal aliens within the U.S.; and harboring, concealing, or shielding aliens from detection. 3. For these reasons, Plaintiffs seek, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated, unpaid wages, treble damages, attorney fees, and all other relief permitted. II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 4. This Court has original jurisdiction to hear this complaint and to adjudicate the claims stated herein under 28 U.S.C. 1331, this action being brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C. 1961, et seq. Venue is proper under 19 U.S.C. 1965(a) because Defendants reside and transact affairs in this District, and Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in Texas. III. PARTIES 5. Defendant Intelligent Mexican Marketing, Inc. (IMM) is a Texas corporation. IMM is a person within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(3) and an enterprise within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(4). IMM can be served by PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 2

3 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 3 of 10 PageID 3 serving its registered agent, David Benitez Gonzales, at 1850 W. Airfield Drive, Suite 100, Dallas, TX Defendant Marketing and Inventory Management, LLC (MIM) is a Texas limited liability company. MIM is an enterprise within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(4). MIM can be served by serving its registered agent, Corporate Creations Network, Inc. at 4265 San Felipe # 1100, Houston, TX Defendant David Benitez Gonzales (Benitez) is the president of IMM. Benitez is a person within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(3). 8. Defendant Ana Cristina Benitez (Cristina) is the president of MIM. Cristina is a person within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(3). 9. Plaintiff Jaime Varela (Varela) is a resident of Seagoville, Texas and was employed as a Sales Representative for IMM and MIM in Dallas, Texas from February 2011 until June Varela is a person within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(3). 10. Plaintiff Yesica Wiegert (Wiegert) is a resident of Forney, Texas and was employed as a Merchandiser for IMM and MIM in Dallas, Texas from August 2011 until July Wiegert is a person within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(3). 11. Plaintiffs bring this action on behalf of themselves and other similarly situated employees pursuant to 18 U.S.C Plaintiffs and the similarly situated employees are individuals who were, or are, employed by Defendants as PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 3

4 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 4 of 10 PageID 4 Sales Representatives and Merchandisers in the past four years. These similarly situated employees are persons within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1961(3). IV. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS 11. Defendants IMM and MIM are an enterprise engaged in business marketing, advertising, and consulting services for companies in the USA Hispanic Market. 12. Defendants Benitez and Cristina run IMM and MIM together. IMM and MIM share employees, staff, and payroll obligations for the purpose of providing marketing, advertising, and consulting services. 13. Varela was hired by Benitez and worked as a sales representative from February 2011 until June 2012 for IMM and MIM. 14. As a sales representative, Varela was tasked with delivering products to the stores and negotiating more product sales with the stores. 15. Varela was paid a base weekly salary. 16. In addition to that base salary, Varela was paid a commission of 4-6% on sales, depending on the total dollar amount of sales made. manager. 17. Wiegert was hired as a merchandiser by Defendants. 18. However, Wiegert functioned as a sales representative, supervisor, and 19. Wiegert oversaw sales to four hundred stores by herself and actively negotiated with new stores and sold products to those stores. PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 4

5 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 5 of 10 PageID Wiegert received a base salary for her work, but did not receive any commissions. 21. Plaintiffs are paid substantially less than the market rate for their services according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 22. Plaintiff s wage depression was caused by the hiring of undocumented workers. 23. Benitez, Cristina, and MIM use the enterprise of MIM and IMM to knowingly hire undocumented workers as supervisors, sales representatives, and in the warehouse. 24. Benitez, Cristina, and IMM are involved in all hiring decisions made by IMM and MIM. 25. Benitez and Cristina hired Varela, Wiegert, and similarly situated employees. 26. Benitez, Cristina and IMM have actual knowledge that at least ten of the employees hired have been brought into the country illegally. 27. Benitez has hired legal workers expressly to drive around illegal workers because the illegal workers do not have valid drivers licenses. 28. Benitez accepts Mexican drivers licenses as proof of identity and requires no U.S. documentation for hiring purposes. 29. Benitez has told employees that he desires to bring in more workers from Mexico to work for IMM and MIM. PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 5

6 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 6 of 10 PageID 6 States. 30. Benitez has encouraged workers from Mexico to come to the United 31. Benitez pays these undocumented workers below market rate for Sales Representatives according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 32. Because Benitez and Cristina are able to hire these employees for well below market rates, Benitez does not pay market rates for legal employees. 33. All conditions precedent to the filing of this suit have been satisfied. V. RICO VIOLATION OF 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii): TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL ALIENS 34. Paragraphs 1-33 are incorporated herein. 35. Benitez and Cristina conducted the affairs of IMM and MIM through a pattern of racketeering activity. 36. Benitez and Cristina used IMM and MIM to violate 8 U.S.C. 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii). 37. Defendants transported aliens within the United States with knowledge or reckless disregard that the alien came to, remained in, or entered the United States in violation of the law by hiring (un?)documented employees to drive them around in performance of their jobs. 38. The actions of Defendants harmed Plaintiffs by depressing Plaintiffs wages through hiring these illegal aliens at below market wages. VI. RICO VIOLATION OF 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii): HARBORING ALIENS 39. Paragraphs 1-33 are incorporated herein. PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 6

7 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 7 of 10 PageID Benitez, Cristina and IMM conducted the affairs of the enterprise IMM and MIM through a pattern of racketeering activity. 41. Benitez, Cristina and IMM used the enterprise IMM and MIM to violate 8 U.S.C. 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii). 42. Defendants concealed, harbored, or shielded from detection aliens, or attempted to do such acts with knowing or reckless disregard of the fact that the alien came to, remained in, or entered the United States in violation of the law by hiring documented employees to drive the aliens around in performance of their jobs. 43. The actions of Defendants harmed Plaintiffs by depressing Plaintiffs wages through hiring these illegal aliens at below market wages. VII. RICO VIOLATION OF 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv): INDUCING ILLEGAL ALIEN TO ENTER U.S. 44. Paragraphs 1-33 are incorporated herein. 45. Benitez, Cristina and IMM conducted the affairs of the enterprise IMM and MIM through a pattern of racketeering activity. 46. Benitez, Cristina, and IMM used the enterprise IMM and MIM to violate 8 U.S.C. 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv). 47. Defendants encouraged or induced aliens to enter the United States with knowledge or reckless disregard that the entrance of the alien would be in violation of law. PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 7

8 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 8 of 10 PageID The actions of Defendants harmed Plaintiffs by depressing Plaintiffs wages through hiring these illegal aliens at below market wages. VIII. RICO VIOLATION OF 8 USC 1324(a)(3)(A): KNOWINGLY HIRING ILLEGAL ALIENS 49. Paragraphs 1-33 are incorporated herein. 50. Benitez, Cristina and IMM conducted the affairs of the enterprise IMM and MIM through a pattern of racketeering activity. 51. Benitez, Cristina and IMM used the enterprise IMM and MIM to violate 8 U.S.C. 1324(a)(3)(A). 52. Defendants knowingly hired for employment at least ten individuals with actual knowledge that the individuals are unauthorized aliens brought into the U.S. in violation of the law. 53. The actions of Defendants harmed Plaintiffs by depressing Plaintiffs wages through hiring these illegal aliens at below market wages. V. JURY DEMAND 54. Plaintiffs, individually and on behalf of the putative class, exercise the right to a jury. VI. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs individually, and on behalf of all employees similarly situated, demand: PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 8

9 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 9 of 10 PageID 9 A. Issuance of notice as soon as possible to all persons who were employed by Defendants during any portion of the four years immediately preceding the filing of this action. Generally, this notice should inform them that this action has been filed, describe the nature of the action, and explain their right to opt out of this lawsuit if they were paid below average wages during any portion of the statutory period; B. Judgment against Defendants for an amount equal to difference between actual wages paid and the average market rate for the Plaintiffs and the class employment positions at IMM and MIM; C. Treble damages; D. Punitive damages; E. All costs incurred and reasonable attorney s fees for prosecuting these claims; F. Leave to add additional Plaintiffs by motion, the filing of written consent forms, or any other method approved by the Court; G. Leave to amend to add claims under applicable state laws; and H. For such further relief as the Court deems just and equitable. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Colin Walsh Robert J. Wiley Texas Bar No Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Colin Walsh Texas Bar No PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 9

10 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 10 of 10 PageID 10 ROB WILEY, P.C San Jacinto Blvd, Ste 401 Austin, TX Telephone: (512) Facsimile: (512) cwalsh@robwiley.com ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION Page 10

11 Case 3:13-cv B Document 1-1 Filed 03/27/13 Page 1 of 1 PageID 11

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS DALLAS DIVISION. -v- Civil No. 3:12-cv-4176

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS DALLAS DIVISION FELICIA D. GRAY; individually and on behalf of similarly situated individuals, Plaintiff, -v- Civil No. 3:12-cv-4176