For nearly eight years, federal agents investigated a case involving a Chinese restaurant in Mobile over suspicions that it was employing and housing illegal immigrants.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began looking into the matter in 2014 after receiving a tip that the now-defunct China Super Buffet was harboring the unauthorized workers. In June 2021, federal agents raided the restaurant.

Restaurant owner Zheng Kong Zheng, along with his wife De Yun Wang and sister Kong Mei Zheng, admitted to harboring the illegal immigrants and pleaded guilty last month to federal charges.

Local affiliate NBC News 15 reports that the defendants acknowledged they knew the employees were unauthorized workers and admitted to paying them in cash. Additionally, they confessed to transporting the illegal immigrants to and from work each day.

According to the outlet, court documents show that the illegal immigrants were housed at two homes that were close in proximity to the restaurant, one of which was owned by the establishment’s ownership.

The three defendants are scheduled to appear before a federal court for sentencing in November.

Last week, Yan Jiao Zuho, a fourth defendant in the case, pleaded guilty to her involvement in the scheme. Zuho, the sister-in-law to the former restaurant’s management, faced a charged relating to money laundering.

Mobile’s Fox 10 News reports that in striking a deal with prosecutors, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of employing illegal immigrants.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL