Man Who Managed Chinese Restaurant Pleads Guilty To Harboring Foreign Workers

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A man who managed a Chinese restaurant in Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to harbor workers who were in the United States illegally, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Quan Liu, 26, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to harbor aliens who were unlawfully in the United States. In his plea, he admitted the crime occurred while he was the manager of Wei’s Super Buffet #2 at 7531 Wornall Road in Kansas City, Mo. The restaurant was owned by a company based in Olathe, Kan., which was headed by co-defendant Wei Liu.

When investigators served a search warrant at a three-bedroom apartment that Quan Liu leased near the restaurant they found six illegal aliens residing there. One had overstayed a B-2 visa, one previously had been deported, one previously had been found unlawfully in the United States and had returned to his country voluntarily, and three others were illegally present in the United States.

Co-defendants include:
Wei Liu, who is awaiting trial.
Xiang Liu, who is awaiting trial
Jin Hui Liu, who is set for a change of plea hearing Sept. 12.
Huiming Liu, who is awaiting sentencing.
Bin Liu, who is awaiting trial.
Huiqing Liu, who is awaiting trial.

Quan Liu will be set for a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask for their work on the case.