Stitching Post Owner Pleads Guilty In Illegal Immigrant Case

Investigators announced Friday that the owner of the Stitching Post store in Dayton has pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving harboring and hiring illegal immigrants.

Authorities said the guilty plea resulted from an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Joseph Edward Fulmer, 46, pleaded guilty to four charges, including encouraging and inducing immigrants to reside in the United States illegally, concealing, harboring and shielding illegal immigrants, visa fraud and misuse and unlawfully employing illegal aliens.

Fulmer agreed to forfeit his residence on Asbury Park Place in Centerville or $152,000 as an alternative to the property, officials said. Investigators also said Fulmer will forfeit seized currency totaling more than $2,500.

The Stitching Post that Fulmer owns repairs and sells sewing machines in various cities throughout Ohio.

Fulmer was convicted in 2004 after he was caught smuggling an illegal immigrant into the United States in Texas. Two of the three illegal immigrants encountered during this investigation have waived their right to appear before an immigration judge. They will be immediately deported to Mexico.

Fulmer will be sentenced in July.