Federal prosecutors have said that Wen Ping Chen, 30, and his brother Wen Qiu Chen, 31, both naturalized U.S. citizens born in China, were arrested inAugust 2013 following an investigation into allegations that they were harboring undocumented immigrants and violating wage laws.
The brothers’ lawyers didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday.
Authorities have said the immigrants worked at the Double Dragon in Rio Rancho, owned and operated by Wen Ping Chen, and the Double Dragon II inSanta Fe, owned and operated by Wen Qiu Chen.
Prosecutors have said the brothers paid the undocumented workers in cash, with some of them paid $500 every two weeks for 60-hour workweeks.
Last December, the brothers each pleaded guilty to harboring undocumented immigrants and violating the federal minimum wage and overtime wage laws.
Filings in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque show that in October 2012, federal agents executed search warrants at the Double Dragon and a Rio Ranchoresidence owned by the brothers. Agents found three undocumented immigrants at the Double Dragon and another in the residence.
In May 2013, federal agents who searched the Double Dragon II and a Santa Fe residence owned by Wen Qiu Chen found five undocumented immigrants at the Double Dragon II. The agents learned that all of the Double Dragon II employees resided in the Santa Fe residence owned by Wen Qiu Chen.
The brothers were ordered to forfeit the Rio Rancho home where the immigrants lived.
Contact Uriel Garcia at 986-3062 or ugarcia@sfnewmexican.com. Follow him on Twitter @ujohnnyg.
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