CARO, Mich. (AP) — The federal government has awarded $250,000 to the Michigan State Police for assisting an investigation of illegal immigrant labor at a dairy farm in the Thumb.

The government says the money comes from financial penalties collected from Aquila Farms, near Bad Axe in Huron County. In 2011, the owners pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.

They admitted employing 78 illegal immigrants from 2000 through 2007. Many were hired on multiple occasions using different names or Social Security numbers.

Besides the state police, the Huron County sheriff's office received $35,000 from the federal government. Authorities have passed ceremonial checks during an event at the state police post in Caro.