Four State College area restaurant owners and managers have pleaded guilty to federal charges that they hired undocumented workers as part of an attempt to defraud the government.
Jian Bin Chen, Chen Yong Chen (owner of China Dragon), Hua Zhen Dong (owner of Penang Asian Fusion) and Xue Jiang (owner of Chen’s Mongolian Buffet) were all arrested on suspicion of immigration-related violations by the United States Department of Homeland Security in a coordinated raid on various Asian restaurants back in June.
On Tuesday, all four pleaded guilty to transporting and concealing undocumented workers and filing fraudulent tax documents with the state and federal governments. Court documents reveal that plea agreements were reached with federal prosecutors in exchange for information and potentially lower sentences.
All four have been released on presentencing agreements with the Unites States Middle District Court of Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors say the restaurant owners hired undocumented workers from Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand and China and paid them less than the minimum wage. They also reportedly housed the workers, provided transportation to the restaurants, and used a New York accounting firm to produce fictitious payment documents.
Federal agents have named Jing Mei Jiang, owner of Fuji and Jade Garden, as the ringleader of this circle of undocumented workers. Court records show that he also entered a guilty plea agreement last month, and will appear in court in September.
Hundred Degrees Hot Pot, My Thai, College Buffet and Hunan Wok were also targeted by the raids, which involved cooperation with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and various local police departments.
