Immigrant Trafficking—Shan Wei Yu

We have discussed trafficking in humans quite a bit in the last couple of weeks. For example, we discussed Representative Smith’s new trafficking legislation yesterday and last week. We have also discussed human smuggling operations in Europe and Puerto Rico. Yesterday, a Texas man was sentenced for immigrant trafficking and money laundering.^[1]

According to federal authorities, Shan Wei Yu brought more than 1,000 illegal immigrants into the United States to work at Asian restaurants.^[2] He organized the operation through his company, Great Texas Employment Agency, using Chinese-language advertisements to offer restaurants cheap labor from Mexico, South America, and Central America.^[3] Mr. Yu earned at least US$900,000 for the workers he placed at restaurants, earning him a rebuke from US District Judge Ralph Erickson: “This is a human tragedy you are dealing in. … This is somebody who seeks out people looking for an American dream, even if it is an illegal American dream.”

During a 15-month stretch, Mr. Yu hired drivers to deliver at least 40 illegal immigrants to Asian restaurants in North Dakota, where he was convicted.^[4] Mr. Yu earned US$150 per worker, while the drivers earned US$300; the US$450 was deducted from the worker’s first month paycheck.^[5]

In addition to being sentenced to nine years in prison, Mr. Yu was forced to forfeit interest in his home, business proceeds, bank accounts, and cash found in his home during an investigatory raid.^[6]

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[1] Man Sentenced for Immigrant Trafficking, Money Laundering, Austin American Statesman, Dec. 22, 2005.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.