Wichita Business Journal - 2:22 PM CDT Thursdayby Ken Vandruff

The owner and two employees of a Wichita powder coating company are named in a 28-count federal indictment charging them with knowingly hiring illegal aliens.

The charges against Bob Eisel, owner and president of Bob Eisel Powder Coatings, Kenric "Butch" Steinert, the company's general manager, and Troy Hook, company foreman, include making false statements, misusing Social Security numbers, receiving false documents for employment in the United States, aggravated identity theft and harboring illegal aliens.

According to the indictment, the company was warned that employees were using false Social Security numbers and in response, Eisel, Steinert and Hook allegedly told the employees to get different numbers if they wanted to keep their jobs.

Steinert also is accused of paying an employee to help other employees obtain false documents.

"The company was more than a passive victim of document fraud," said Eric Melgren, U.S. Attorney for Kansas, in a statement. "The indictment states that the company assisted in the purchase of dozens of sets of false identification documents. The company even paid for counterfeit Social Security cards and counterfeit Resident Alien cards."

Eisel was not immediately available for comment.

If convicted, the three men face penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000.