Two individuals from Rancho Cucamonga have been convicted in a federal court for crimes associated with a "birth tourism" operation that catered to Chinese nationals seeking birthright U.S. citizenship for their offspring. On trial, evidence established that Michael Wei Yueh Liu, 59, and Jing Dong, 47, provided housing and various services to pregnant clients, guiding them through the process of giving birth in America, a plan that spanned from January 2012 to March 2015.
A jury found Liu and Dong guilty of one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of international money laundering. It was unveiled during the four-day trial that the duo not only housed these clients in Southern California but also aided them in obtaining visas under false pretenses, as they concealed their true intention to give birth during their U.S. stay. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, their customers typically claimed their visit was for tourism and would last just days or weeks, as opposed to the actual duration of months.
The services provided by Liu and Dong included advice on how to successfully navigate the visa application process, guidance on how to pass through customs without disclosing their pregnancies, and how to respond to questions by customs officials. According to evidence presented at trial, they also recommended their clients to wear loose-fitting clothes and targeted specific ports of entry believed to have more lenient customs checks.
Upon receiving payments from overseas, Liu and Dong channeled these funds to promote their illicit operation. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner set a sentencing hearing for December 9, where Liu and Dong will confront up to five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum of 20 years for each money laundering count. The complex investigation was a collaborative effort by Homeland Security Investigations, the IRS, and the FBI, with additional support provided by local law enforcement agencies.
