Two women, previous employees in the Agriprocessors human resources department, pleaded not guilty in federal court today to charges related to illegal immigration.

Laura Althouse, 38 of Postville, told the court she was not guilty of aiding and abetting document fraud and aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft.

Katrina Freund, 29 of Fayette, pleaded not guilty to harboring and aiding and abetting the harboring of undocumented aliens.

According to court documents, the women were working in the human resources department on May 11 — the day before a massive federal immigration raid at the kosher meatpacking plant. The court alleges that on that day the two women aided individuals they knew to be undocumented workers with obtaining new documents so they could continue employment at Agriprocessors.

After entering their pleas with the court, both women remain released on bond pending an Oct. 2 status hearing and a Nov. 17 trial date.

If found guilty Althouse will face a minimum 2 year sentence and a maximum 12 year prison sentence, a $500,000 fine, $200 in special assessments and 4 years of supervised release.

Freund, if found guilty, faces a maximum 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments and three years of supervised release.