A Southern California man was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday. Project implementation base “maternity tourism,” in which wealthy Chinese pregnant women pay thousands of dollars to travel and give birth in the United States in order for the babies to receive American citizenship, officials said Monday.
A federal judge sentenced Michael Wei Yueh Liu, 59, of Rancho Cucamonga, east of Los Angeles, to prison. After a four-day trial Ministry of Justice stated
Liu and Jing Dong, 47, of Rancho Cucamonga, were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of international money laundering. Dong will be judged later.
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Federal officials raided approximately 20 locations associated with a maternity tourism program in three Southern California counties. Including this apartment complex in Rancho Cucamonga. California, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 (Stan Lim/The Press-Enterprise via AP)
From January 2012 to March 2015, Liu and Dong ran “USA Happy Babby Inc.”, which promotes the benefits of childbirth in the United States over China. Ministry of Justice said Such incentives include “Better air” superior educational resources food safety and political stability According to court documents
The couple charges between $20,000 and $40,000 for each client. VIP customers paid more than $100,000, prosecutors said.
Liu and Dong would pay agents in China to recruit pregnant Chinese women. and coached them on how to pass a U.S. consular interview in China, prosecutors said.
Their visa applications falsely stated that the women would be in the United States for a period of days or weeks. Not for many months The official said They also misrepresent where they will be staying in the United States. The official said
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Federal officials raided approximately 20 locations associated with a maternity tourism program in three Southern California counties. Including this apartment complex in Rancho Cucamonga. California, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 (Stan Lim/The Press-Enterprise via AP)
“In general, Defendants’ USA HAPPY BABY clients’ visa applications falsely stated that the purpose of their travel to the United States was for tourism. The length of stay is 8 to 14 days, and clients will stay in Hawaii, New York, or Los Angeles. In spite of the fact Those clients are coming to the United States to give birth. Their length of stay will be three months and they will be staying in Rancho Cucamonga, California, or Irvine, California,” court documents state.
The women were also advised to fly to certain ports where it was believed they would face less scrutiny from U.S. customs officials. Examples include flying to Hawaii before flying to Los Angeles.
Women were also told to wear loose clothing. and comply with customs regulations that they view as less stringent. and how to answer questions from customs officers
Federal officials raided approximately 20 locations associated with a maternity tourism program in three Southern California counties. Including this apartment complex in Rancho Cucamonga. California, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 (Stan Lim/The Press-Enterprise via AP)
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to support these women Liu and Dong then rented apartments in Orange and San Bernardino counties to women in the names of those who would not occupy them, authorities said.
Prosecutors said that throughout this project The couple made millions of dollars.
