Israelis given credit for jail time in immigration case
By Nick Hytrek, Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, March 18, 2006
Two Israeli men charged with housing an illegal alien avoided jail time Friday and were given credit for time previously spent in custody.
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett gave Eial Lewin, 25, and Yoav Yalovizky, 24, credit for 33 days they spent in jail after their December arrests for harboring an Israeli man who worked at kiosks they operated at Southern Hills Mall.
In U.S. District Court in Sioux City in January, Lewin pleaded guilty to one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. Yalovizky pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the harboring of an alien.
Yalovizky apologized in court for his actions, saying that had he known his actions were illegal, he would have acted differently.
"I'm really sorry for all the trouble that was caused in this case," he said. "I am not a criminal ... I wish things would have happened in a different manner."
Both men had faced prison sentences of up to six months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hobart recommended they be given no additional time in custody because of their cooperation during the investigation and providing additional information about illegal immigration practices.
"We believe he's given very helpful information to a government investigation that is ongoing," Hobart said at Yalovizky's sentencing.
Both men are in the midst of deportation proceedings. If deported, neither may return to the United States without permission from the Department of Homeland Security. Hobart said the men also could return to Israel on their own before their deportation cases are heard.
Lewin and Yalovizky were arrested Dec. 10 along with five other Israelis who were working at the Spa to Go and Spa to Go II kiosks, which sold lotion and other beauty products.
Lewin, the investor, and three of his workers were found to be violating their non-immigrant visitor visas. Yalovizky, the kiosks' manager, and two other workers had non-immigrant worker visas, but were qualified to work only in Stockton, Calif.
Both men were charged with harboring Gavriel Bernstein in a Sioux City apartment. Hobart said Bernstein has returned to Israel and the other four workers have received permission from his office to return to their home country.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett gave Eial Lewin, 25, and Yoav Yalovizky, 24, credit for 33 days they spent in jail after their December arrests for harboring an Israeli man who worked at kiosks they operated at Southern Hills Mall.
In U.S. District Court in Sioux City in January, Lewin pleaded guilty to one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. Yalovizky pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the harboring of an alien.
Yalovizky apologized in court for his actions, saying that had he known his actions were illegal, he would have acted differently.
"I'm really sorry for all the trouble that was caused in this case," he said. "I am not a criminal ... I wish things would have happened in a different manner."
Both men had faced prison sentences of up to six months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hobart recommended they be given no additional time in custody because of their cooperation during the investigation and providing additional information about illegal immigration practices.
"We believe he's given very helpful information to a government investigation that is ongoing," Hobart said at Yalovizky's sentencing.
Both men are in the midst of deportation proceedings. If deported, neither may return to the United States without permission from the Department of Homeland Security. Hobart said the men also could return to Israel on their own before their deportation cases are heard.
Lewin and Yalovizky were arrested Dec. 10 along with five other Israelis who were working at the Spa to Go and Spa to Go II kiosks, which sold lotion and other beauty products.
Lewin, the investor, and three of his workers were found to be violating their non-immigrant visitor visas. Yalovizky, the kiosks' manager, and two other workers had non-immigrant worker visas, but were qualified to work only in Stockton, Calif.
Both men were charged with harboring Gavriel Bernstein in a Sioux City apartment. Hobart said Bernstein has returned to Israel and the other four workers have received permission from his office to return to their home country.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
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