(BAY CITY) – A 60-year old Marlette woman who illegally helped immigrants work at dairy farms in Michigan’s Thumb region has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. Yolanda Stewart played a key role for years. In her plea agreement she said she enabled 10 farms, especially in Huron and Tuscola counties, to reap the benefits. Stewart was sentenced Wednesday in Bay City federal court.
She helped people who were in the U.S. illegally buy groceries, cash checks and send money to Mexico. Stewart says she helped workers get bogus identity documents.
Defense attorney Paul Beggs says Stewart regrets her actions. But he says it’s a stiff sentence for “something so many people do.” Charges against Stewart’s husband were dropped.
