Utica Dog Food Plant Owner Admits To Harboring Illegal Aliens

The owner of a Utica dog food plant has pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 47-year old MIchael Dote of West Edmeston admitted to hiring four illegal aliens from Guatemala in 2013 to work at the Scooby Rendering plant on Oriskany Street..

Authorities say an investigation into a December 2013 fire at the plant revealed that the four aliens were working and living at Scooby.

Dote is facing a maximum of 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of 250-thousand dollars. He'll be sentenced on September 18th.