Alistair McGuffie, 48, of Broad Lane, Huddlesford, near Lichfield, owned Central Laundry in Nicholson Way, Burton. He was jailed for two years in March 2007 after admitting three offences of facilitating immigration by providing employment and one charge of facilitating an individual in breach of a tourist visa.
Following a police investigation into McGuffie's assets, a Proceeds of Crime hearing at Staffordshire Crown Court ruled on 17 November 2008 that he must repay the confiscation order within 12 months.
Financial investigator Mark Brattle told the court that McGuffie had benefited from the crime by a total £350,000 (calculated as the money paid to the workers plus a percentage of the turnover.
Brattle said: "McGuffie had the benefit of the employment of these workers both as production operatives and as illegal immigrants. They contributed to the continuing success of the business.”."
Detective Sergeant Nick Jones, from Staffordshire Police's Economic Crime Unit said: “This latest order demonstrates our resolve to remove assets that have been unlawfully obtained and sends home the message that crime does not pay.”
Five Central Laundry employees were arrested in 2006 on suspicion of being illegal entrants. Four workers, two men and two women from the Ukraine, were each jailed for 12 months for using forged Spanish passports to gain National Insurance details.
Immigration authorities dealt with the fifth, a Gambian man, after he was found to be working in contravention of his tourist visa.
