Metro Detroit Restaurant Owner Used, Housed Undocumented Workers: Feds

TROY, MI — A Troy man, who owns two restaurants in the Detroit area, is facing charges after federal officials said he used and housed undocumented workers.

Yong NI, 52, was charged with conspiracy, harboring illegals for commercial advantage and private financial gain and fraud and misuse of immigration documents.

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NI was also charged with possession of a lawful permanent resident card obtained by fraud or false statements.

When he obtained a U.S. visa, officials said he did not disclose that he received an exclusion order in 1995 when he attempted to enter the U.S. with a fraudulent passport.

He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

"We will investigate and prosecute employers who harbor illegal aliens," U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said. "These criminal employers profit from lawbreaking. And they do it at the expense of the American worker."

NI hired undocumented people to work at his Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse restaurants in Royal Oak and Shelby Township, officials said.

Officials said NI had other employees obtain phony resident cards and social security cards for the undocumented workers.

He allowed the undocumented workers to live in sparsely furnished homes in Shelby Township and Royal Oak in exchange for the labor, officials said.

Officers raided the homes, which were either owned by NI or through his restaurant, and found a total of 28 people living in them, officials said.

Officials said 17 of the 28 people were identified as undocumented immigrants illegally present in the United States without employment authorization.

NI provided transportation for the workers, who told officials NI gave them free housing in exchange for working at his restaurants, officials said.

Ni could be required to forfeit the restaurants if he is convicted, officials said.

Officials did not provide any other details about the workers.

"Exploiting our immigration system for personal gain is a serious offense, and those who orchestrate or participate in such schemes will have to answer for their actions," said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.