Detroit Plumbing Company Owners Accused of $74 Million Scheme Employing Hundreds of Undocumented workers
ROCHESTER,NY – A Metro Detroit plumbing company and its owners are at the center of a federal investigation alleging a $74 million scheme built on the employment of hundreds of undocumented workers.Court records unsealed this week detail how Orduna Plumbing Inc. allegedly knowingly hired approximately 112 workers without legal authorization to work in the United States, exploiting them while rapidly expanding the business.
Federal agents raided a rental home in Rochester, new York, in February 2025, discovering nine individuals from Mexico and Nicaragua living in the sparsely furnished 1,500-square-foot property. The home contained multiple mattresses on the floor of each bedroom, according to court documents. Investigators found cellphones, mail, company credit cards, and employee badges linked to Orduna Plumbing at the residence.
An affidavit filed in U.S. District Court alleges that of the 253 workers employed by the plumbing firm, 112 were found to be in the U.S. illegally. Approximately 28 workers had overstayed their visas or possessed visas that did not permit employment in the U.S. Investigators found no immigration records for the remaining 107 workers, leading the agent to state, “the most likely clarification…is that most are illegally present in the United States but have not had any interaction with immigration officials.”
The investigation is ongoing, and charges have not yet been formally filed. The case highlights a growing concern regarding the exploitation of undocumented workers and the potential for significant financial gain through unlawful employment practices.
rsnell@detroitnews.com