Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty To Harboring Undocumented Aliens

Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Ping Ping Zheng (37, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to harboring undocumented aliens for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Zheng faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. As part of the plea agreement, Zheng has agreed to forfeit to the United States a residence in Jacksonville and a transit van. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement, Zheng owned and operated the Kamiya 86 Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar located in Jacksonville Beach. At the restaurant, she employed workers who were unlawfully present in the United States and who were not legally authorized to work in the United States. Contrary to federal law, Zheng did not require the workers to provide documents to establish that they could legally work in the United States.

Zheng also owned a residence at which she provided rent-free housing to the undocumented aliens, provided them with free transportation between the house and the restaurant, and with free food on the days when they were working. Zheng paid the workers in cash and did not withhold taxes and other payments from the workers’ wages.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol, with assistance from the Jacksonville Beach Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.