Saga Restaurant Owner Harbored Illegal Aliens

PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of harboring illegal aliens, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

Xing Zheng Lin, aka Steve Lin, age 44, of McKees Rocks, PA pleaded guilty to one count before Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in and around 2009, until on or about January 10, 2014, Lin harbored illegal aliens who were employed at Saga Restaurant in Monroeville, Robinson, and Bethel Park, all of which were owned by Lin.

Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for July 31, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lin.