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Deputies report first sanctions law violators
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A Guadalupe store and three other businesses in southwest Phoenix could be the first to face penalties under the state’s new employer sanctions law.
Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies arrested four illegal immigrants working at the stores this weekend on suspicion of selling alcohol to underage customers. The arrests came during a Valleywide operation targeting underage alcohol sales.
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Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Chagolla said the businesses would be reported the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for possible violation of the employer sanctions law, which went into effect on Tuesday.
The law punishes businesses that knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
The first offense can result in a 10-day suspension of a company’s business license. The second offense can mean loss of the business license altogether.
The four stores caught with undocumented workers were among 162 businesses with state liquor licenses that undercover deputies checked this Thursday and Friday.
Officials said about 10 percent of stores sold alcohol to minors during the operation, which continued Saturday. Results for Saturday were not available.
To check stores, the sheriff’s office used it’s own detention officers who are under 21.
As of Friday night, deputies had arrested 21 people on suspicion of selling alcohol to underage customers in eight Valley cities, including Mesa, Tempe and Guadalupe.
No businesses were shut down as a result of the crackdown. But Chagolla said the sheriff’s office would take action against at least one store for alcohol violations.
That store had a 16-year-old working alone and selling alcohol. State law says employees selling alcohol at a liquor store may be 16, but cashiers that young must have someone older than 19 present.
The sheriff’s office has also been conducting a crackdown on underage tobacco sales. So far, more than 3,000 businesses have been checked.
Officials said more than 30 percent of businesses have sold tobacco to minors.
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