Thread: Invasion profiteer in Texas found guilty

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index. ... ction=News

Jury finds Texan guilty
By Steven P. Wagner, The Forum
Published Friday, September 30, 2005

A Texas man who found jobs for 6,000 people at Asian restaurants nationwide profited by exploiting illegal immigrants, a federal jury decided late Thursday.

A seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for three hours before convicting Shan Wei Yu and his business, Great Texas Employment Agency, in a conspiracy to traffic illegal immigrants and launder money.

Yu faces a forfeiture hearing today in Fargo’s U.S. District Court as the government aims to seize his home, business proceeds and money from nine bank accounts.

The employment agency used Chinese-language advertisements to offer restaurants cheap labor from Mexico, South America and Central America.

Yu, 51, of McKinney, Texas, defended himself during the four-day trial with help from Cando, N.D., attorney Robert Ackre, who questioned Yu on the witness stand.

Yu hired drivers to deliver at least 40 illegal immigrants to Asian restaurants in North Dakota during a 15-month stretch. Drivers received $300 and Yu $150 for each worker.

Operators of some Asian restaurants in some North Dakota cities, including Fargo, contracted with Yu.

A grand jury indicted Yu after authorities launched an investigation in early 2004. The investigation began when U.S. Immigration and Customs agents questioned, two illegal immigrants near Grand Forks, N.D.

Twenty-three of 24 restaurant workers found by federal agents were residing illegally in the United States.

Yu said Thursday he didn’t know the workers were illegal immigrants. Ackre argued rogue employees trying to establish their own employment agencies and Yu’s “blind love� for his girlfriend prevented Yu from realizing his agency provided illegal workers.

Ackre asked jurors to consider the government’s failure to force Ya Cao, Yu’s girlfriend, to testify as one reason to acquit.

“One witness, case over,� Ackre argued. “They didn’t bring her.�

Assistant U.S. Attorney Norm Anderson called Ackre’s theory a “red herring.�

“You can’t turn your back on what is obvious to everybody else and claim you didn’t know,� Anderson said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Chase said Yu deposited $150,000 in bank accounts from trafficking people and cautioned drivers to be careful because of increased enforcement after 9/11.

Chase also reminded jurors of Yu’s business journal entries that matched with contracts to deliver workers to restaurants around the country.

“He checks drivers to make sure they aren’t stepping out on him,� Chase said.

Yu will be sentenced Dec. 9 and faces 10 years in prison. Cao was arraigned in court last week on similar charges.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Steven P. Wagner at (701) 241-5542

"Yu said Thursday he didn’t know the workers were illegal immigrants"

LOL!! Oh, my, that's the best laugh I've had in days.