Related Federal Cases
- Disbarred Lawyer Roberts Admits Tax Evasion · New Jersey
- Michael Q. Fu Sentenced to 37 Months for $1.5M Tax Evasion · New Jersey
- Ex-Bergen Coin Dealer Cops to $400K Tax Evasion · New Jersey
- David Evdokimow Gets 3 Years for $5.8M Tax Evasion · New Jersey
- ‘Bill Burke’ Gets 9 Years for Homeowner Scam & Tax Evasion · New Jersey
Sicklerville Man Admits to Hiring Undocumented Immigrants, Tax Evasion
CAMDEN, N.J. – Phillip Hui, a 37-year-old man from Sicklerville, New Jersey, has admitted to conspiring to evade payroll taxes on cash wages paid to undocumented immigrants employed at his dry cleaning business, New Eastern Cleaners.
According to court documents, Hui and his co-owner, Kathy Lei, knowingly hired foreign nationals from Mexico and Guatemala who did not have legal status in the United States. The undocumented immigrants worked six days a week, approximately 10 hours a day, and were paid between $400 and $500 per week in cash. Their rent was also included in their compensation.
Hui admitted to transporting the undocumented immigrants between their living quarters and the dry cleaning business. When filing Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, Form 941, Lei only reported wages paid to legal employees, failing to report the wages and pay employment taxes for at least 13 undocumented immigrant employees in 2012 and at least 14 undocumented immigrant employees in 2013.
This led to a total of at least $97,104 in unpaid employment taxes. Hui faces up to 5 years in prison and a potential $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to obstruct and impede the IRS. He also faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for harboring aliens.
Hui’s sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2016. His co-owner, Kathy Lei, pleaded guilty to the same charges on May 2, 2016, and is also scheduled for sentencing on August 11, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to Hui’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden. Hui’s defense counsel is Jeffrey Zucker, Esq. of Camden, NJ, while Lei’s defense counsel is Michael Engle, Esq. of Philadelphia, PA.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime