2 receive probation in State College restaurant raid

Two members of what the federal government refers to as the Jiang Organization have received probation for their roles in undocumented immigrants working in State College-area Chinese restaurants.

Yong Cheng Chen and his wife, Hua Zhen Dong, both 33, Monday were placed on two years’ probation and fined $500 each by U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann.

They are among the eight who pleaded guilty in September to a charge of conspiring to harbor illegal aliens. Two others received the same sentences in December.

Chen must forfeit $21,890 in currency and his wife $43,108 that the government had seized. He operated China Dragon on the 100 block of South Atherton Street and she Penang Inc. on the 1200 block of North Atherton Street.

Brann, without elaborating, said it appears Chen and Dong were pressured into participating in the scheme that included transporting, housing, paying in cash below the minimum wage with no taxes being withheld and not requiring proof of identity.

Neither Chen nor Dong speaks English, but they apologized through an interpreter. The advisory sentencing guidelines called for a term of between six and 12 months in jail.

One of those awaiting sentencing is the alleged ringleader, Jing Mei Jiang, 51, who besides the conspiracy count pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Jiang admitted using an employment agency in New York’s Chinatown to recruit Asians and Hispanics from Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand and China to work in kitchens in the State College restaurants.

An accounting firm, also in New York’s Chinatown, prepared false unemployment compensation documents the government says were wired to state offices in Harrisburg.

During a June 12, 2014, sweep of the restaurants, 18 people living in the country illegally were found, the charges state.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 6:53 PM with the headline "2 receive probation in State College restaurant raid."