CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The majority owner of the New China Buffett & Grill, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, money laundering, tax evasion and employment tax fraud.
Quanwei Shi, 31, and co-owner Chongqiang Chen, 30, both of Clarksville, were arrested in April 2020 following a joint investigation by state and federal agencies with cooperation from local law enforcement, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart.
A 14-count indictment charged them in a scheme to harbor undocumented workers and to defeat the tax laws of the United States.
According to David Boling, spokesman for the U.S Attorney’s Office of Middle Tennessee, Shi admits he conspired to conceal undocumented migrants from China and Guatemala, profiting of their employment with NCBG.
The undocumented workers were not required to complete any forms related to immigration status and were paid in cash, outside the regular payroll system.
In addition, Shi admits the undocumented workers lived with him at his residence on D Street in Clarksville; were transported to NCBG and back daily; and were assigned to work in the kitchen where they would not be able to interact with the patrons of the restaurant.
Shi also admitted to underreporting receipts on NCBG’s corporate tax returns as well as failing to account for employment taxes for an overall tax loss of $440,941.
According to Boling, the government seeks the forfeiture of Shi’s Clarksville home; two vehicles, the contents of two bank accounts totaling $33,126.25 and an additional $42,947 in cash.