WASHINGTON — The front-runner within the Republican major to turn into Georgia’s subsequent governor — whose platform calls to make the Peach State “primary within the nation for deporting prison unlawful immigrants” — didn’t vet the citizenship standing of employees on his personal mansion, in response to courtroom paperwork obtained by The Put up.
Billionaire well being care government Rick Jackson has been concerned in a employees compensation dispute after one of many laborers suffered a fall whereas “portray the mulch” at his palatial Cumming, Ga., property in March 2023.
Based on a petition filed final month, the Georgia State Board of Employees’ Compensation erred in denying Facundo Ortega’s declare for advantages as a result of it didn’t “take into account proof” that Jackson employed the person with out checking his “work authorization.”
The 71-year-old “maintained a long-standing workforce of a number of laborers performing landscaping and property upkeep work for many years, together with people with out work authorization who nonetheless carried out steady employment for the employer,” the March 18 submitting by Ortega’s lawyer said.
In a associated deposition, Ortega’s superintendent, Ivan Robolledo, testified that he had by no means crammed out his taxes utilizing a Social Safety quantity — whereas Robolledo’s lawyer blocked strains of questioning about his shopper’s immigration standing.
Jackson was deposed twice within the dispute — in October 2023 and January 2024 — and denied information that Robolledo couldn’t lawfully work within the US. Each Ortega and Robolledo acknowledged that they had been Mexican nationals in courtroom information.
“Do you recall that in his deposition, he [Robolledo] testified that he was undocumented, didn’t have a Social Safety quantity or work allow?” a lawyer requested the Jackson Healthcare founder and CEO in the course of the 2024 sitdown.
“I wasn’t there when he testified in his deposition,” Jackson responded.
“Do you know that he was undocumented?” the lawyer additionally requested.
“No,” stated Jackson, who additionally admitted that he by no means vetted “new hires” utilizing necessary I-9 kinds, which guarantee staff are eligible to work.
Jackson claimed at different factors within the interview that he didn’t immediately rent employees and solely engaged with the superintendent who managed the landscapers and upkeep personnel. Robolledo in his deposition stated he’s labored as a landscaper for the chief for 18 years.
Ortega introduced the employees comp grievance towards Jackson Funding Group, LLC, and JIG Actual Property, LLC, which is owned by the previous agency. Jackson serves as CEO of each — however was unable to affirm in his depositions who exactly his staff had been.
“I do know that sounds complicated,” he answered. “However most of our — if we have now different staff, we normally rent them by means of JIG or one other entity. I’m speaking about if JIG has staff, we rent them by means of one other entity. I’m unsure that we have now any direct staff, from a payroll standpoint, out of JIG Actual Property.”
Nonetheless, Ortega was paid greater than $31,000 by JIG Actual Property, LLC, between Could 2022 and April 2023, in response to copies of practically two dozen checks reviewed by The Put up.
Jackson made a splash earlier this month with an advert blitz vowing that “prison illegals” will “find yourself deported or departed” beneath his management.
“I don’t care in case you’re a Muslim or a Mongolian, you don’t have the precise to pressure your tradition on our nation,” the candidate said.
“Too typically, prison illegals commit sick, violent crimes, victimize our youngsters and get away with homicide. So right here’s my assure to them: Try this once I’m governor, and also you’ll find yourself deported or departed. Any questions?”
The employees comp attraction will beheard in Forsyth County Superior Court docket Could 14, 5 days earlier than the Georgia major.
Jackson has acknowledged an almost $1 billion internet price in monetary disclosures — although his marketing campaign says it quantities to greater than $3 billion, the Atlanta-Journal Structure first reported.
An InsiderAdvantage ballot taken earlier this month discovered Jackson (32%) with a transparent lead in a crowded GOP subject that features President Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (25%), Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (11%), and state Lawyer Common Chris Carr (6%).
Practically one-quarter of respondents (23%) stated they had been undecided about whom they’d again.
The InsiderAdvantage ballot surveyed 800 seemingly Republican major voters April 22-23, with a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 proportion factors.
Reps for Jackson’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to a request for remark. Neither did an legal professional listed for him on the employees compensation case.
