Kansas City restaurant owner pleads guilty to harboring foreign workers

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A man who owned Chinese restaurants in Olathe and Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to employ and harbor workers who were in the United States illegally, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. Three other defendants also pleaded guilty to federal charges.

The following defendants entered guilty pleas:

• Wei Liu, 41, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for private financial gain. He was the owner of Wei’s Super Buffet on South Strang Line Road in Olathe, Kan., as well as Wei’s Super Buffet No. 2 on Wornall Road in Kansas City, Mo.

• Xiang Liu, 36, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to agents of the Department of Homeland Security. She was Wei Liu’s wife, and she helped manage the business.

• Huiqing Liu, 25, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud. She is Wei Liu’s sister.

• Bin Liu, 40, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to agents of the Department of Homeland Security. He lived at Wei Liu’s residence in Olathe.

A fourth defendant, Huiming Liu, 43, was sentenced Monday to time served, which was approximately 10 months.

She pleaded guilty to one count of failing to depart from the United States after being ordered to do so. She is Wei Liu’s sister.

In his plea, Wei Liu admitted that he employed at least 12 illegal aliens at his two restaurants. He paid them in cash and provided housing for them without charging them for the housing.

The defendants, who will be scheduled for sentencing at a later date, are facing the following penalties:

• Wei Liu faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

• Xiang Liu faces a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.

• Huiqing Liu faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.

• Bin Liu faces a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.

Grissom commended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Department of Labor, the Missouri Department of Labor and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask for their work on the case.