Restaurants Sentenced for Illegal Harboring of Aliens; Owners Sentenced for Unlawful Employment

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that HOLLYWOOD EAST d/b/a EAST BUFFET and GRAND BUFFET, INC. were sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to Illegal Harboring of Aliens.

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced HOLLYWOOD EAST d/b/a EAST BUFFET, 2750 Severn Avenue, Metairie, and GRAND BUFFET, INC., 800 South Clearview Parkway, Suite L, Harahan, to five years probation and a $35,000 fine. According to court documents, both restaurants funded two separate residences in Jefferson Parish that harbored illegal aliens who worked in the restaurants, transporting them by van each day.

The individuals who owned the businesses, CHUI CHEUNG, age 41, YIK CHENG, age 36, and SAU CHEUNG, age 44, were sentenced after previously pleading guilty to Unlawful Employment of Aliens. Each individual was sentenced to two years probation and a fine of $5,000.

The investigation started when United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents performed inspections of the restaurants. The restaurants did not report the workers to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Federal search warrants were executed at both residences that yielded evidence of the employment and harboring of the illegal aliens.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. was in charge of the prosecution.