Missouri restaurant manager pleads guilty to harboring illegal aliens

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A local man who managed a Chinese restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to harbor illegal alien workers, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Five individuals were found guilty at trial Wednesday for harboring illegal aliens as part of a conspiracy that obtained for illegal aliens motor vehicle registrations, license plates and titles.

Quan Liu, 26, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to one count of conspiring to harbor aliens who were in the United States illegally. In his plea, Liu admitted the crime occurred while he was the manager of Wei's Super Buffet #2 at 7531 Wornall Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri. The restaurant was owned by a company based in Olathe, Kansas, which was headed by co-defendant Wei Liu.

When investigators served a search warrant at a three-bedroom apartment that Quan Liu leased near the restaurant they found six illegal aliens residing there. One had overstayed a tourist visa, one previously had been deported, one previously had been found unlawfully in the United States and had returned to his country voluntarily, and three others were in the United States illegally.

The following are co-defendants in this case:

• Wei Liu is awaiting trial;
• Xiang Liu is awaiting trial;
• Jin Hui Liu is set for a change of plea hearing Sept. 12;
• Huiming Liu is awaiting sentencing;
• Bin Liu is awaiting trial, and;
• Huiqing Liu is awaiting trial.

Quan Liu faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask, District of Kansas, is prosecuting this case.