CINCINNATI - The owner of Bee's Buffet restaurant in Fairfield, Ohio, today pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here to various counts surrounding employment of illegal aliens. This plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart, Southern District of Ohio, and Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Detroit.

Jing Fei Jiang, 37, illegally employed a number of unauthorized aliens to work in his Chinese restaurant beginning as early as October 2005 and continuing to June 2006. In addition to employing illegal aliens, Jiang housed them in a residence he owned in Fairfield, and he transported the alien workers to the restaurant in a vehicle he owned.

Jiang has been residing in the United States without authorization since he was ordered deported more than 10 years ago. Afterwards, he filed an application for immigration benefits, which has not been granted or otherwise adjudicated.

Jiang applied for a loan from the Small Business Administration in March 2005 and falsely stated on the application that he was a U.S. citizen.

Jiang pleaded guilty to one count each of inducing, transporting and harboring an illegal alien to work in his restaurant, and making a false statement on an application for a small business loan. According to court documents, in the plea agreement Jiang also agreed to forfeit the following: $100,000 in lieu of the real property formerly known as Bee's Buffet, about $179,397 in cash seized from a safe in Jiang's residence, all items of value seized from a safe deposit box Jiang rented which includes $150,050 in cash, the contents of three bank accounts, and a 2004 GMC Yukon XL vehicle.

“We continue to work with all law enforcement agencies to act against those who subvert our immigration laws,” Lockhart said.

ICE special agents from the Cincinnati office, assisted by the Fairfield Police Department, executed federal search warrants at Jiang's residence and his place of business on June 5. Following execution of the search warrant, Jiang was arrested and has remained in ICE custody since his arrest.

“No matter how large or how small the company, ICE has no tolerance for individuals who use illegal aliens in their workforce,” said Moskowitz, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Detroit. “ICE will use all our resources to bring employers to justice that engage in this type of criminal activity.” Moskowitz' area of operations includes the States of Michigan and Ohio.

Each of the three counts connected with employing an illegal alien carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Making a false statement on a small business loan carries a maximum possible sentence of 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million.

Jiang faces deportation after he serves his prison time. Senior U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel set Jiang's sentencing for April 12.

U.S Attorney Lockhart commended the cooperative investigation by ICE agents and Fairfield Police officers, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Porter, who prosecuted the case.

-- ICE --