Thread: TN-Restaurant owners indicted , allegedly harboring illegal

Restaurant owners indicted for allegedly harboring illegal aliens Save Email Print


Posted: 5:03 PM Apr 15, 2009
Last Updated: 5:56 PM Apr 15, 2009
Reporter: Meredith Hill
Email Address: Meredith.Hill@wvlt-tv.com

1 comments



Restaurant owners indicted for allegedly harboring illegal aliens


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A federal grand jury has indicted the owners of the Mandarin House on Gleason Drive with harboring illegal aliens.

The indictment also says Peter Ko and Pao C. Liu encouraged illegals to come to Knoxville with the promise of work and a place to live. Ko and Liu harbored at least seven immigrants between September 2006 and May 2007.

The indictment says Ko and Liu promised them employment at the Mandarin House and shelter at an apartment building on Teaberry Lane.
At the time police allegedly found the illegals, it too was owned by Ko and Liu.

The property's no longer owned by the suspects.
The current owner, Keith Simmons, says he bought the foreclosed property from a bank in February 2008. "It was in pretty dire shape. People were living in it but I don't see how", said Simmons.

Volunteer TV News asked federal prosecutors how often problems of harboring illegal aliens happens in Knoxville. They turned down our requests for an interview or comments.

Temple Black with Immigration Customs Enforcement wouldn't comment on specifics in the East Tennessee Area.

"It's not just in one particular part of the country where this type of activity is ongoing", says Black.

One Mandarin House customer says he'll continue eating at the restaurant. "I think it's a government issue. I don't think it's a dining issue. I don't think it's a Knoxville issue", says Scott Chrisman.

So what do you do if you suspect illegal immigrant activity in your area?
"People need to work with their local police departments and sheriff's departments and that's probably the best way to handle the issue", says Black.

Black also recommends calling ICE's tip line at (877) 347-2423 if you suspect illegal immigrant activity.

Volunteer TV News tried to talk with Ko and Liu and were referred to their lawyer, who declined to take our call.


http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/43059562.html

Just a little over an hour away from Knoxville, in Cleveland,TN this very same situation is occurring and has been for two years. Is it that the ICE office in Chattanooga is incompetent? Why do they allow illegal aliens to live in masses and be housed and worked by the same people? No prosecution of the owner/manager of the restaurant either. Raid/s by ICE did nothing to change things and the pattern appears to continue. City of Cleveland,TN officials, including the Mayor seem little interested in protecting neighborhoods and property values when these situations go ignored. The Chamber of Commerce has a stranglehold on so many city governments.

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