The DOJ says the defendants allegedly hired undocumented workers from Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand and China “for commercial advantage and private financial gain.”
After more than a year of silence, the United States Department of Justice has filed criminal charges in connection with the federal raids of eight State College restaurants last June.
Federal prosecutors say eight restaurant owners and managers conspired to “transport, harbor and conceal illegal aliens” and defraud the Pennsylvania and United States governments by filing falsified financial reports and tax documents, according to a DOJ news release.
The owner of Fuji and Jade Garden – Jing Mei Jiang, 51, of Boalsburg – is identified as the ringleader of the alleged conspiracy.
Jiang faces felony charges of conspiracy to transport and conceal undocumented workers and conspiracy to defraud the state and federal governments, which carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
However, online court documents show that Jiang, his attorney and federal prosecutors signed a guilty plea agreement last month. In that agreement, Jiang has agreed to disclose and forfeit his assets and provide “information concerning the unlawful activities of others.”
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