Thread: Agents testify illegal workers found in home of De Pere man

Agents testify illegal workers found in home of De Pere man
Li faces charges of harboring 3 immigrants, having firearm
By Andy Nelesen • anelesen@greenbaypressgazette.com • January 21, 2009

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Buzz up! Federal agents testified Tuesday they discovered three illegal immigrants last year in the home of Yu Tian Li of De Pere, the owner of China King Buffet.


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jeffrey Stillings testified he stopped at Li's Silver Street home on July 16 to interview him about reports of undocumented workers and discovered three illegal immigrants. One possessed an expired tourist visa issued in 1995, Stillings said.

All three immigrants said they worked in Li's restaurant.

Under cross-examination, defense attorney Tim Geary questioned Stillings about the immigrants' status and asked how they were working at Li's restaurant after having contact with ICE agents.

"Illegally," Stillings said.

Testimony is expected to resume today with jurors hearing videotaped testimony from the immigrants.

Li, 45, faces up to 30 years in prison for three counts of harboring and two counts of possessing a firearm stemming from a gun found in Li's home.

In March 2007, Li was convicted in Brown County court of misdemeanor battery for injuring a female co-worker in August 2006. Li was on probation when the immigrants were found in his home.

Li's wife, Yuechan "Susan" Gong was killed in 2004 by an employee of the restaurant.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/art ... 1207/GPG01

Li guilty of harboring illegal immigrants
By Andy Nelesen • anelesen@greenbaypressgazette.com • January 22, 2009

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Buzz up! A federal jury on Wednesday found a restaurant owner guilty of harboring two Chinese nationals at his De Pere home.


But the jurors — six men and six women — acquitted Yu Tian Li on a third harboring charge connected to a 25-year-old Mexican man immigration agents found in Li's De Pere home with the Chinese men.

Li, 45, faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced May 6 for the two felony charges of harboring illegal immigrants for financial gain. A pair of firearm possession charges are set for trial in February.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Koenig noted that the Mexican national was only living at Li's house for a few days and speculated that may have played a role in the jury's decision.

Defense attorney Tim Geary had no comment after Wednesday's hearing.

Li's wife, Yuechan "Susan" Gong was killed in 2004 by an employee of the restaurant.

In March 2007, Li was convicted in Brown County court of misdemeanor battery for injuring a female co-worker in August 2006. Li was on probation from that conviction when the three immigrants were found in his home.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/art ... 1207/GPG01