Restaurants Accused Of Harboring Illegal Immigrants
Authorities Say Supervisors Connected To Smugglers In China
POSTED: 6:57 a.m. MST February 12, 2002
UPDATED: 7:48 a.m. MST February 12, 2002
DENVER -- Authorities believe supervisors at Chinese restaurants in Westminster and Fort Collins harbored dozens of undocumented immigrants, and are themselves illegally in the United
States.
Xiu Li Zheng, 33, manager of Ali Buffet at 1100 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins was indicted Monday on charges of harboring undocumented immigrants.
Also indicted were Mao Ding Dong, 27, Shi Li Zheng, 33, Dan Hong Dong, 32, and Shai Hui Zhao, 24, all of whom supervised employees at the Top China Buffet , located at 7850 N. Sheridan Blvd. in Westminster.
The five pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in U.S. District
Court in Denver on Monday. They face up to five years in prison and
a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
Twelve undocumented immigrants working at the restaurants are
facing deportation proceedings by Immigration and Naturalization
Services.
Authorities believe the supervisors employed the undocumented
immigrants at the restaurants. As many as 40 immigrants could have been
crammed into an Arvada home where a police officer reported seeing
22 mattresses, U.S. Attorney John Suthers said.
Another 12 immigrants apparently lived at a home in Fort Collins.
"This is a growing problem across the country and it's a
growing problem here. It's a sad situation. We have people
desperately wanting to come to the U.S., being recruited to pay
money to come to the U.S.," Suthers said.
The five supervisors are also suspected of having connections to
smugglers in China who arranged for the restaurant workers to come
to the United States.
Several of the restaurant workers told authorities they came to
Denver from Los Angeles with the help of an employment agency.
Authorities also had a confidential informant get a job at the
Westminster restaurant. She allegedly told the manager that she was
a Chinese national in the United States illegally.
Xiu Li Zheng, 33, manager of Ali Buffet at 1100 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins was indicted Monday on charges of harboring undocumented immigrants.
Also indicted were Mao Ding Dong, 27, Shi Li Zheng, 33, Dan Hong Dong, 32, and Shai Hui Zhao, 24, all of whom supervised employees at the Top China Buffet , located at 7850 N. Sheridan Blvd. in Westminster.
The five pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in U.S. District
Court in Denver on Monday. They face up to five years in prison and
a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
Twelve undocumented immigrants working at the restaurants are
facing deportation proceedings by Immigration and Naturalization
Services.
Authorities believe the supervisors employed the undocumented
immigrants at the restaurants. As many as 40 immigrants could have been
crammed into an Arvada home where a police officer reported seeing
22 mattresses, U.S. Attorney John Suthers said.
Another 12 immigrants apparently lived at a home in Fort Collins.
"This is a growing problem across the country and it's a
growing problem here. It's a sad situation. We have people
desperately wanting to come to the U.S., being recruited to pay
money to come to the U.S.," Suthers said.
The five supervisors are also suspected of having connections to
smugglers in China who arranged for the restaurant workers to come
to the United States.
Several of the restaurant workers told authorities they came to
Denver from Los Angeles with the help of an employment agency.
Authorities also had a confidential informant get a job at the
Westminster restaurant. She allegedly told the manager that she was
a Chinese national in the United States illegally.Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
