PHOENIX -- Sheriff's deputies raided a painting company Monday morning and arrested eight illegal immigrants, said the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office started investigating after several calls came in from former employees of the Cochran Painting Company located on West Frier Drive in Glendale. The calls claimed that U.S. citizens who worked there were recently fired while the illegal immigrants were not, the sheriff's office said.

The eight were arrested on charges of felony identity theft and forgery charges.