Lexington restaurant owner pleads guilty to hiring undocumented workers

The owner of eight Mexican restaurants in the Midlands pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to “engaging in a pattern and practice of hiring illegal aliens,” U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said.

As expected from court filings last month, Greg Leon, 49, of Lexington pleaded guilty to hiring 60 workers that he knew were in this country illegally at his restaurants in Newberry, Lexington, Richland and Orangeburg counties. Leon, who owns some of the San Jose restaurants, also admitted paying former Lexington County Sheriff James Metts for help “on several occasions” when one of these illegal workers was arrested.

Federal prosecutors are recommending one-year’s probation and a $180,000 fine — not jail time — for Leon because of his help in the public-corruption investigation of Metts. Leon already has been sentenced to five years on probation and 200 hours of community service by a state court.

The combined sentences are “an appropriate resolution for Leon’s criminal charges,” Nettles said.

Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. will sentence Leon after he has reviewed a presentencing report to be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office, Nettles said.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Lexington restaurant owner pleads guilty to hiring undocumented workers."