Pleas of not guilty entered in Hibachi Grill case
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Three people with links to Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet in Sioux Falls had pleas of not guilty entered on their behalf by a judge in federal court Wednesday.
The suspects are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Court documents say the restaurant's former owner Hui Weng and former manager Min Lin along with accomplice Jin Ju Pan worked together 'to encourage and induce aliens, for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain, to come to, enter and reside in the United States.' This was allegedly done 'knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that the coming to, entry and residence in the United States by the said aliens was in violation of law.'
Hibachi Grill staff charged with harboring aliens
Per court documents, the defendants allegedly sought to employ workers who didn't have permission to work in the country, with at least one conspirator allowing the foreigners to work at the restaurant without mandating they give evidence of such permission.
Court papers say employees were paid with cash after deducting the costs of rent and meals in addition to transportation to and from work. The documents describe an environment in which the employees had to comply, with the court papers stating 'some' conspirators informed workers 'that immigration authorities would be called if the employees did not work hard or do what they were told.'
Per city and county records, a home owned by Weng is located near the restaurant. When KELOLAND News stopped by the residence Wednesday, one person at the home said he didn't speak English, and another denied anyone at the house worked at the restaurant.
The alleged crimes took place between 2014 and 2023. As part of the investigation, authorities identified more than $285,000 in American dollars in addition to jewelry as items for forfeiture in case of conviction.
The restaurant has run afoul of the law before; back in late 2022, the federal Department of Labor announced the restaurant violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. In that case, the federal government recovered more than $250,000 of overtime back wages and damages.
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