Restaurateur to pay $150K for hiring illegal immigrants
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published February 7, 2008 at 9 a.m.
Updated February 7, 2008 at 2:31 p.m.
The owner of a chain of popular Chinese restaurants plans to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from employing illegal immigrants.
Louie Li, a naturalized American from China, will pay a $150,000 fine to settle the charges, said Dave Gaouette, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver.
Li, also known as Ting Fu Li, will appear in U.S. District Court on March 6 at 1:30 p.m. He was arrested Dec. 21 on a complaint charging him with unlawfully harboring and transporting aliens.
Li, his wife and sister-in-law own the South Garden restaurant chain, which has locations in Denver, Parker and Castle Rock.
The restaurants remain open.
Workers said they worked for lower than minimum wage at the restaurants. They've since been deported to Mexico.
Neighbors complained that they saw numerous Spanish-speaking men go in and out of Li's homes — a house in unincorporated Douglas County and a townhouse in Castle Rock. Some complained the men were rude to neighbors.
Gaouette said the U.S. attorney agreed to a deal partly because Li had no prior criminal record and because "there were no aggravating circumstances."
"The individuals weren't chained or abused in any way," Gaouette said. "If they had been, we wouldn't have offered this plea.
"He allowed them to come and go, provided them with transportation to and from the restaurant. He gave them time to go, unfortunately illegally, back to Mexico and back here. They could take vacations.
"They weren't mistreated. Of course, they weren't put up at the Ritz or anything either."
Li's lawyer Michael Axt said the husband and wife worked long hours in restaurants before earning saving enough money to start their own.
He was able to hire legal immigrants, mostly from China, for most of the past 10 years, Axt said. But with a shortage of workers able to travel to the suburbs, Li hired illegal immigrants to work the restaurants in Castle Rock and Parker.
"Mr Li provided adequate housing at minimal expense for the workers," Axt said.
Through his lawyer, Li issued an apology: "Mr. Li apologizes to his loyal patrons and their respective communities for these lapses in judgement. Mr. Li also wants to assure the public that he is now in full compliance with all legal requirements pertaining to hiring practices."
Li remains free on bond.
CBS 4 contributed to this report.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
February 7, 2008
9:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! Good going. Wheeeheee.
Hey I called ICE on an apartment building last week. I mean to tell you there were so many of 'em going in & out.
The ICE guy told me I was the 3rd to call and they were working with local law to handle it because there so many of 'em.
So glad people are standing up to this burden Mexi's have placed on American society.
Adios Adios Adios!!!
February 7, 2008
9:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
Hang him high!!!! YES!!!! Fine the heck out of him!!
Take the next step and fine ALL of the fast food outlets, janitorial companys, Construction companys, etc, etc.
Go after the owners, managers, corporate heads! In other words enforce the immigration laws!!!!
Attrition through ENFORCEMENT!!!
February 7, 2008
9:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
Chal writes:
Let's keep the pressure on ICE and and local enforcement. They got after Swift last year, and now this employer, but they need to get on ALL illegal employers.
February 7, 2008
10 a.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
Also, according to ICE, there are landords out there who are buying up cheap foreclosures and stuffing them full with illegals because they can get 6 or 7 into an apt meant for 2. They collect huge amounts of rent from the illegals without fear of the Housing Authority hearing from them.
B A S T A R D S!!!
February 7, 2008
10:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
cheddown writes:
Illegal immigrants are not the problem. Nobody cares about illegals when the economy is doing well. They are exploited for their labor. Once the economy is not doing well, illegals are quickly blamed for the situation.
February 7, 2008
10:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
Illegal immigrants are "not the problem" cheddown?? They became a problem when Reagan gave amnesty to 3 million of them. They became 6 million in a few short years, then 12 million and now most likely have turned into 20 million or more in today's society!!!
The pursuit of cheap foreign labor, and ONE ethnic group, abusing our country and services(hospitals, schools,social programs etc!) These services, are designated for American citizens ONLY. The illegals,will eventually cause our economy to bleed to death.
No country on this planet can absorb as many peoples from one ethnic group (Mexico)in our case, and still offer it's own citizens a stable secure environment!!!
Enough is enough!!!
Attrition through ENFORCEMENT!!
February 7, 2008
10:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
Kslayer writes:
Illegals are only the problem because of Citizens like Li who own business and exploit immagrents for the labor because they are greedy. Guess what, If jobs such as these are not around, the illegals wouldn't be around. Cut off the hand that feeds! It's about time a business owner has his hand slapped! Hey ICE, Go after the Jerks that hire Illegal! Greedy pieces of Sh@#!
February 7, 2008
10:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
RightBeDone writes:
American 100.
I presume that the "'em" that you are referring to are people of latino descent, in otherwords, brown people whose first language is spanish. If that is your only reason for thinking that "'em" are in this country without proper documentation, then you are simply a racist. Please tell me that you have some other reason for believing that those people are not documented, otherwise, please get out of the country that my family came to on the Mayflower. We don't want racists. We want hardworking people, and we prefer "'em" if they are documented, but we do not want bigots whether or not they are white and hold a passport. Go back to your country, be it Italy, Germany, England, Sweden or whichever hovel you crawled out of.
February 7, 2008
10:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
looseprop writes:
Alright ICE! Now Mr. Li can get some 'mericans in there (assuming he can find any willing to work) and pay them a decent minimum wage and also pay the guv'mint social security, medicare, medicaid, SUTA, FUTA, etc. I'm looking forward to the new menus Mr. Li will be printing - unfortunately all the entrees cost $2-$3 more now. Guess I'll stay home and make a burger - if I can still afford the beef.
February 7, 2008
11:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
RightBeDone writes:
Send FloydHill back to Europe- after two years of history classes.
February 7, 2008
11:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
fiesty writes:
Hear, Hear! We need more of this. Get the employers like this guy and Swift. Although then the ACLU and activists organizations yell about raids and intimidation. Wonder how long it will be until we hear that sort of garbage in regards to the prosecution of this guy.
February 7, 2008
11:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
PersonOfInterest writes:
But, how many people have hired them to put a new roof on their house, or work on landscape, or general work around their homes? They say they don't want illegals here, but they hire them because it is cheap. Just like the folks that protest Walmart, then are the first ones in the doors when they are build.
February 7, 2008
11:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
ruckus writes:
FloydHill -
What are you doctor or something? Because your opinion is so deep you might as well being giving yourself a prostate check up.
How can you get serious about anything with your subjective arrogant I-think-im-smarter-cuz-i-speak-english statements?
Here is a prime example of what the immigration issue really is about, demonizing brown people in general. I agree with regulating immigration but turning it into some kind of xenophobic witch hunt is ridiculous. But I guess someone has to be the scapegoat and let it not be the one who just proposed to slash billions of dollars in healthcare and social security. But im sure youll be whining when your paying $5 a pop for some tomatoes.
February 7, 2008
11:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
anteup writes:
Did I miss something here? What happened to the numerous illegals, were they deported?
February 7, 2008
11:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
ruckus writes:
jdub88,
"Ruckus, the "brown people" demonize themselves."
And how many brown friends of yours need an exorcism?
February 7, 2008
11:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
dirkle writes:
Employers should be penalized for stuffing their pockets and profitting off of illegal immigrants at the expense of the American taxpayer. That makes total sense.
Now can we please (at the same time) knock of the xeno-racist rhetoric?
February 7, 2008
12:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
ruckus writes:
dirkle,
"Employers should be penalized for stuffing their pockets and profitting off of illegal immigrants at the expense of the American taxpayer. That makes total sense."
Makes sense to me, but the usual business model of "If it dont make dollars it dont make sense" tends to think otherwise.
And as far as the xeno-racist rhetoric, why turn a blind eye with sewn lips when someone is so adamant about expressing it. Call it what it is.
February 7, 2008
12:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
vudumom writes:
PersonOfInterest, I live in a HOA development.They paint our houses every 5 years. This year they hired a crew of all Mexicans that could not speak English.The Foreman would bring them in a van in the morning and pick them up at about 5 p.m.
After seeing this I called the HOA manager and told him I would not let any of these workers on my property unless the company could show documentation that these workers were in the country legally.After some back and forth and him seeing that I wasn't going to back down and that I would make trouble for the company hired.My house was painted by the white owners of the company. i knew they were using illegals and I refused to let them on my property because of principal and lawsuits.I don't know if this company was properly insured or had workman's comp and I wasn't going to be put in that position if someone got hurt on my property.So yes illegals will work for less and some people don't care if their roof or painting is done by illegals,but I do.
February 7, 2008
12:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
ruckus writes:
jdub88,
"ruckus, my brown-eye would benefit from an exorcism."
But then Van Morrison couldnt sing to you.
February 7, 2008
12:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
ruckus writes:
RickyLee,
There is a difference between xeno-racist and straight up just confused. knowwhatisayingmang?
February 7, 2008
1:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
redwhiteandBLUE writes:
It's about time!!!!!!!!!!
Fine all employers who hire "em".
February 7, 2008
2 p.m.
Suggest removal
captainamerica writes:
I was very happy to see this article, and was poised to write my own diatribe condemning the scourages of illegal mexicans like y'all. But then I read more closely and realized that these were workers of chinese decent. No brown skin at all! That's quite a let down.
February 7, 2008
2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
These particular illegals were Spanish speaking and were allowed to go back and forth to Mexico (the Chinese employer was kind enough not to chain them down while not working so he was offered a plea agreement!) so everyone is assuming they are Mexicans. A reasonable assumption. The article mentions that most of the legal immigrants he has employed were from China.
I am definitely willing to pay more for products that were provided by "Americans" no matter what their race is. I don't believe anyone is being a bigot or racist about this, it just so happens that apparently most of the illegals are from Mexico so that's why in cases like this, and in other that involve more serious crimes, most people jump to the conclusion the illegal immigrant is Mexican.
February 7, 2008
2:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mtnsjohn writes:
I say "welcome" with open arms to those entering the country legally, waiting their turn, standing in line, who obey the laws, and who don't steal the identities of others.
ICE is overwhelmed and both the Dems and Repubs at the national level see the potential of a huge new block of loyal voters if they just play their cards right. What has had its effect is the number of voters willing to become disloyal to a party or candidate over this issue of non-enforcement ignoring of this problem. Even McCain is rethinking his position.
Too bad Colorado is refusing to actually enforce State illegal immigration laws directed at employers passed in 2006. The expectation of the citizenry was that the state would take action since the Feds weren't. Has any employer been held accountable to this point by the State of Colorado?
February 7, 2008
2:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
junglegymco writes:
I am in complete agreement that illegal immigration is a serious issue in the U.S and it's about time the employers took responsibility.
However, I've also ready some rather alarming comments in this forum that are complete rubbish. First, public K - 12 education is paid primarily through property taxes. To say that an illegal immigrants' children causes the cost to double is patently false (unless the family is living in a Winnebago). If they are in ANY residential building, be it a house or apartment, they are paying rent and thus the owner is paying property taxes from their rent.
Second, unless the employee is paying the illegal worker in cash, social security and medicare taxes (along with the "head" tax, for some local municipalities) are being paid by the illegal worker, who has NO OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS MONEY.
Third, the state sales taxes that these people pay on the goods and services they buy are put into the general fund for the State of Colorado. While they may circuitously receive some of the benefits of the state expenditures, they are not eligible for many of them. The same holds true for the local sales taxes placed on goods and services.
Yes, illegal immigration poses a huge dilemma for the U.S. But it’s time to look at what really happens and stop the false arguments. Illegal immigrants do in fact pay taxes, some of which benefit U.S. citizens ONLY.
February 7, 2008
3:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
mexcellent writes:
Have any of you applied for the open dishwasher/bus boy positions created by these useless raids?....I highly doubt it.
February 7, 2008
3:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
ruckus writes:
*applauds junglegymco*
so many subjective arguments presented as skewed facts hinders ones' ability to rationalize the ENTIRE issue...
Yes there is fence on the border but can you understand both sides?
February 7, 2008
3:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
nonayerbsns writes:
What gets my goat is that he can affort to PAY a $150,000 fine. That's ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND!! Must be an expensive menu.
February 7, 2008
4:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
I don't agree with the comment that the wages the illegals receive get circulated back into our economy through the sales taxes collected. Much of the money they earn, even money the legal Mexican Americans earn, go back to their family in Mexico so they can eventually come to the land of plenty!
And how can the employer pay the illegal immigrant in the form of a payroll check and collect taxes from them unless they are taking on someone else's identity or falsely representing themselves?
I would love to comment on the education issue, but I will leave that to another time.
February 7, 2008
4:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
ruckus writes:
Fresh -
"Mexcellence
Those dishwasher positions can be filled by college kids, kids on summer break, the jobless, or any other CITIZEN of the country that is qualified to take them."
Yet most qualified jobless citizens don't take them,
Trapped all day play all night this the life of a, the life of a Go Getta Go Getta
February 7, 2008
6:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
Rightbedone
So far every time I've called ICE, I've been right on the money.
Comments like yours prompt me to make the next calls.
February 7, 2008
7:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
raoul writes:
what a nice refreshing article. I think I'll call ICE about this house in my neighborhood where there's at least a half dozen beater trucks parked nightly. Single family home that sleeps at least a dozen dark-skinned, spanish speaking construction types.
And i'm racist to logically suspect that maybe some of them are ILLEGAL?
February 7, 2008
7:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
Raoul call 1-866-347-2423.
It's confidential. When you call they'll ask what's going on, and then they'll send you on to the main guy. Very easy.
Good luck and God Bless America.
February 7, 2008
7:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
ICE 1-866-347-2423. Do it for America. How many Americans are putting their life on the line overseas to protect the American way?
Let's do our part here.
February 7, 2008
7:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
kc02 writes:
The Arizona law against hiring illegal aliens is working. No reason why we can't do the same here.
February 7, 2008
8:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
In Arizona & Oklahoma they are experiencing SELF DEPORTATION by illegals.
Since the public has become involved and the authorities have stepped up, illegals are leaving rather than being randomly deported.
Making the calls work. ICE 1-866-347-2423.
February 8, 2008
1:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
cheddown writes:
T1anda:
There is a long history of Latin America being exploited for its rich natural resources and labor. If you could go back in history before Reagan you would know this. There are many policies that have kept latin american countries underdeveloped. This is to the benefit of the US. They would not come here if the situations they found back home were better. Change could come through different policies that will let latin american countries develop instead of being exploited.