Two Jacksonville restaurant owners are facing federal charges for allegedly harboring undocumented workers. Hua Yao Ke, 38, and Ping Ping Zheng, 37, have been charged with providing shelter and employment to individuals not authorized to work in the United States, as announced by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. According to the Department of Justice, the two could face up to 10 years in prison if they're found guilty.
Ke and Zheng are reportedly the owners of Kamiya 86 Sushi and Thai restaurant in Ponte Vedra Beach, and Kamiya 86 Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar in Jacksonville Beach, respectively. Investigators claim that the duo not only failed to verify the legality of their workers' employment status, but they also went so far as to provide to give them lodging and transportation, free of charge. Moreover, it is alleged that they bypassed the tax system by paying these workers with cash.
The complaint highlights that the workers received more than just a job; Ke and Zheng are accused of supplying housing at their own residences without charging rent and offering transportation between these homes and the restaurants. In addition, they allegedly provided free meals to these workers. It is crucial to remember however, that a complaint is, as stated by the Department of Justice, "merely a formal charge" and does not establish guilt—Ke and Zheng remain innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.
This case, revealing shady practices in local businesses, was uncovered by Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier will lead the prosecution.
