A Parkersburg man was sentenced this week to three years of federal probation and ordered to pay $75,000 after pleading guilty to immigration-related crimes involving a foreign national who worked without pay at his business for a decade.
Frederick Sayre Anderson, 65, of Parkersburg, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on Tuesday. Anderson admitted to concealing, harboring, and shielding an illegal immigrant from detection. The sentencing follows his January guilty plea.
According to court documents, from January 2011 through May 7, 2021, a foreign national from Madagascar lived and worked at Anderson’s business in Parkersburg. His business is a laboratory that provides water quality testing kits to various state and local government agencies across the United States.
Anderson acknowledged that the woman entered the U.S. on a 90-day fiancé K-1 visa he obtained for her. This visa required them to marry within 90 days of her arrival. However, they never married, and Anderson was aware that after the visa expired on April 8, 2011, the woman’s stay in the country was illegal.
Despite this, the foreign national continued to live and work at Anderson’s laboratory for about ten years without any compensation. The woman stayed in an office space converted into a makeshift bedroom inside the business.
There were no shower facilities at the workplace, so she either showered at the home of Anderson’s business partner, John Robert Coe, or cleaned herself with baby wipes when Coe’s residence was unavailable.
Court records reveal that the woman drained her life savings during this time. Anderson also encouraged her to lie about her income so she could obtain credit cards. Anderson then used those credit cards to cover business expenses and fund personal trips, including one to the Cayman Islands with a friend.
Additionally, Anderson admitted that he actively took measures to prevent government officials from discovering the woman during visits to his business. This involved hiding her presence to avoid detection by immigration authorities.
“This is a strange and saddening case,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “The defendant harbored an illegal alien for a decade and exploited her at every opportunity.
Enforcing immigration laws is vital for public safety, national security, and the rule of law. Our office remains committed to thoroughly enforcing these laws.”
John Robert Coe, 66, of Parkersburg, Anderson’s business partner, also pleaded guilty in January to continuing to employ a known illegal immigrant. Coe is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7 and has already paid $54,740 in restitution as part of his plea deal.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the West Virginia State Police and the Parkersburg Police Department. U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the sentencing, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuting the case.
This case highlights the serious consequences for individuals who exploit illegal immigrants and violate immigration laws. Anderson’s sentence reflects the government’s commitment to holding offenders accountable and protecting the integrity of the immigration system.
