Hua Yao Ke, a 38-year-old Jacksonville resident, has pleaded guilty to operating a commercial enterprise designed to evade provisions of U.S. immigration laws, according to U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Ke, who owns the Kamiya 86 Sushi and Thai restaurant in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, faces up to five years in federal prison for the crime.
Ke admitted to employing workers who were unlawfully present in the U.S. and not requiring them to provide documents that would verify their eligibility to work. In addition to his illegal employment practices, Ke also provided free housing and transportation to the undocumented workers and paid them in cash, without withholding the necessary taxes or payments.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier prosecuting. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled, but Ke faces significant penalties as a result of his actions.
This case highlights the continued efforts by federal authorities to investigate and prosecute employers who violate U.S. labor and immigration laws.
