The saga of Pei-Yun Chung, the 34-year-old woman accused of repeatedly dining and dashing at various upscale Brooklyn restaurants, has taken another serious turn. After her string of alleged theft-of-service charges and near-dozen arrests, an immigration warrant may now also lead to her deportation. Chung, who was reportedly in jail since Friday over the charges, has an immigration hearing looming after overstaying her student visa, which expired after her scholarship-fueled tenure at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute. According to The New York Post, the warrant surfaced on the Department of Corrections website, with immigration attorney Gadi Zohar suggesting the criminal troubles were likely what brought it on.
Local restaurateurs have been sharing their experiences with Chung, notably at places like Peter Luger's and Michelin-starred Francie. Despite the high-end meals, and her occupation of a $3,350-a-month Williamsburg studio owned by former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, she has apparently been falling behind on rent by a staggering $40,000. A court order demands her eviction by December 1, although she may still be in custody by that date. As detailed by ABC 7 New York, her most recent arrest occurred at Mole Mexican Bar and Grill after she ordered $149 in food and refused to pay. An eyewitness, Alberto Sanchez, general manager of Motorino, recalls how Chung spent hours dining before her credit cards were declined: "She came in and asked for like two appetizers, two full pies, dessert, hot drinks, you know. And yes, it was a little bit weird because it was just for one person. It was like a lot of food," he told ABC 7 New York.
Chung's lifestyle, punctuated by photos of lavish dishes on her social media, contrasts starkly with the legal and financial troubles she's presently undergoing. She reportedly last worked as a consultant for Chase bank in 2023 and faces an uncertain future as she deals with the dual pressures of criminal charges and potential deportation. Her bail, set at $4,500 cash, has so far not been paid, and "even if she raises bail, immigration wont let her go," Zohar warned in a statement to The New York Post.
The trouble for Chung also underscores the complexities of immigration policy intersecting with local law enforcement. Notably, the "dine-and-dash diva" had even resorted to offering sex for meals, as reported by The New York Post, and now, instead of the foie gras and carbonara pasta she's been photographing, her culinary experience is set to be significantly downgraded.
