ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Millersville, Maryland

INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE

July 2, 2008

To: Captain Randall R. Jones

Special Enforcement Section

Via: Chain of Command

FROM: Sergeant Timothy Phelan # 1174

Special Intelligence Section

Subjeet: ICE Operation "Touch Up" Smnmary

Message:

In January 2007, the SAC Baltimore initiated an investigation after receiving

information that AnnapoJis Painting Services, located at 2561 Housely Rd. Annapolis,
Md., was eIDJ»oying undocumented workers. The information suggested that !be owner
of the company pays these woIkers by check, deducts 113 of their gross pay, and tells the
undocumented workers that the deductions are for taxes which will be due after they
receive "green cards.· The infurmation also indicated that the owner does not pay
overtime and pays the undocumented workers straight time regardless of the hours or
days oftbe week the work was performed.

The owners of the company were identified as Robert and Rebecca Bontempo of
25 Bancroft AYe., Annapolis, Md. Investigation revealed that Robert Bontempo was
employing 35- 40 undocumented workers and harboring these aliens at residences owned
by him. A financial review of the business/personal bank records indicated that Mr. And
Mrs. Bontempo are laundering proceeds from the employment of undocumented workers
through the business account to pay for various assets, to include real estate, vehicles, and
investment accounts, which are proceeds from the iIJega! activity.

On June 30, 200s, eleven (11) Federal Search Warrants and six knock-and-talks
were executed in tbe Annapolis, Maryland. The Anne Arundel County Police
Department provided fifty (50) unifonned officers and detectives to assist at ten (10) of
these locations to include the business. These officers and detectives provided a strong
police presence and assisted with traffic stops and evidence collection.

As part ofthe search warrants and knock-and-talks, fCE agents arrested forty-five
(45) illegal aliens on immigration violations and placed them in removal proceedings. fn
addition, six (6) individuals were identified at the search warrant location(s) that qualified
for a humanitarian release and were issued a mail-out Notice to Appear. One person
located in a target location was arrested on a local misdemeanor warrant and transported
to Southern District by an Anne Arundel County detective. ICE agents seized eight (8)
commercial vans, two {2} luxury vehicles, and five (5) bank accounts totaling
approximately $18,000. ICE agents also served six (6) Grand Jury subpoenas and target
letters.

On July 1, 2008, fifteen (IS) Liz Pendens were filed for residences in the
Annapolis, Maryland area. The residences included the owners' primary residence as weU
as numerous residences used to house the unauthorized workers.

I received numerous compliments fiom ICE personnel in reference to the officers

and detectives that participated in this detail.