A Florida woman has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to harboring undocumented immigrants for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
Ping Ping Zheng, 37, owner and operator of Kamiya 86 Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar in Jacksonville Beach, admitted to employing undocumented workers who were not authorized to work in the United States. Zheng failed to comply with federal law by not requiring her employees to provide documentation proving their legal work status.
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Furthermore, Zheng provided these undocumented workers with rent-free housing, free transportation to and from the restaurant, and free meals on workdays. She paid them in cash and did not withhold taxes or other payments from their wages.
As part of her plea agreement, Zheng has agreed to forfeit her Jacksonville residence and a transit van to the United States. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
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The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Jacksonville Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier is prosecuting the case.
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