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The owners/managers of two restaurants, Wei’s Super Buffet in Olathe, KS and Kansas City, Missouri, were charged by federal authorities in the Kansas City area on November 5, 2013 for alleged employment-related immigration violations.
The United States Attorney’s office issued a press release stating that a federal criminal complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas. The complaint alleges that the owners and managers of the restaurant knowingly employed, transported, and housed undocumented workers.
The release states that the investigation has been ongoing since February 2011, when ICE agents began surveillance on the owners, managers, and employees at Wei’s Super Buffet. ICE checked quarterly wage reports and unemployment tax returns that were submitted by the restaurant to the Kansas DOL and were able to identify employees who were illegally present in the United States. Also during their investigation, ICE identified apartments that were rented by the owners/managers where their undocumented workers were living.
If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and of fine up to $250,000.
Over the past year, we have seen an overwhelming number of ICE investigations, with quite a few of those being prosecuted federally. Now is as good as of a time as ever to make sure your company is in compliance with immigration laws and you are well protected from an unexpected visit from ICE.
Corporate Immigration Compliance Officer Training can be found here.
Jessica Haefele
Corporate Immigration Attorney
THE MDIVANI LAW FIRM, LLC
7007 College Blvd., Suite
Overland Park, KS 66211
Phone: 913.317.6200
Fax: 913.317.6202
E-mail: JHaefele@uslegalimmigration.com