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Man accused of trafficking immigrants
By Jeff Zent
The Forum - 09/27/2005
The Great Texas Employment Agency was selling the American dream on street corners in Dallas and Houston.

Shan Wei Yu, the agency’s founder, contends in Fargo’s federal court that he was simply connecting people who needed jobs with North Dakota restaurants that needed workers.

Federal prosecutors have a different take on Yu’s business. They hope to prove to a jury this week that Yu was trafficking in illegal immigrants.

Yu, 51, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Operators of some Asian restaurants in Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Minot and other North Dakota cities contracted with Great Texas Employment to supply illegal immigrants for low-paying jobs, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Chase said.

Chase offered a federal jury on Monday a summary of the government’s case against Yu, who is being tried in Fargo’s federal court for transporting illegal immigrants to work in North Dakota restaurants between March 2000 and January 2005. Yu also is charged with money laundering.

Prosecutors released few details about the case until opening arguments Monday. They have declined to identify restaurants suspected of hiring illegal immigrants or provide other information.

Within a 15-month period, Asian restaurants in North Dakota ordered and received 40 workers from Yu’s company, Great Texas Employment, Chase said.

“There are employers who prefer hiring illegal workers� to avoid paying overtime, Social Security taxes and unemployment benefits, he said.

Yu is defending himself, but allowed Cando, N.D., attorney Robert Ackre to address the jury during opening arguments on Monday.

Great Texas Employment recruited “thousands and thousands� of people at missions and on the streets of Houston and Dallas. Great Texas Employment transported them to jobs across the country, but Yu didn’t know any of them were illegal immigrants, Ackre said.

“This whole case comes down to what did Shan know as the head of Great Texas Employment,� he said.

From Texas, Yu’s company transported illegal immigrants from Mexico, Central America and South America to other parts of the country, netting him $150 for each worker, Chase said.

Trafficking in people was a “volume business� for Yu. who, with no other source of income, deposited $150,000 in bank accounts over two years, Chase said.

Great Texas placed ads in Chinese-language newspapers to find Asian restaurants looking for cheap help. They found plenty in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and just about every other state, according to court testimony.

Yu is one of eight Texas residents charged in the indictment. Yu’s trial is expected to last four days. If convicted, face 10 years in prison.

An investigation began in early 2004 when agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked up, then questioned, two illegal immigrants near Grand Forks.

Yun Di Lu, who operated the now-defunct Buffet House Chinese restaurant in Grand Forks, pleaded guilty to human trafficking and was sentenced to four months in prison.

An Dong Cen, McKinney, Texas, has pleaded not guilty to transporting illegal aliens. Six other defendants have pleaded guilty, court records show.