A federal jury found Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong guilty on eleven counts, including money laundering. The two were charged in 2019 along with a dozen others, including a woman who later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten months in prison.
According to the prosecution, the couple ran the company Happy Baby USA, which helped several hundred so-called birth tourists in the years 2012-2015.
– Avoid rocking
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The price of 40,000 dollars – just over 430,000 kroner at today’s exchange rate – included training in what the women should say in the visa interview and how to hide the fact that they were pregnant, including by dressing in loose clothing and avoiding “rocking like a penguin” . They were also accommodated in apartments while they waited for the birth.
– The business model was all along based on misleading US immigration authorities, prosecutor Kevin Fu said in his closing statement to the jury.
The prosecution believes the women were motivated by the US practice of granting citizenship to everyone born in the country. It can give hope for easier access to higher education and a better financial future. When the child turns 21, the parents can also apply for a residence permit in the form of family reunification.
– Commendable
For their part, the defense believes that the prosecution has not linked Liu and Dong to business in China, and that the pair only helped people after they had arrived in the United States.
Dong’s lawyer John McNicholas also argued that birth tourism is not illegal and said Dong was only helping Chinese women who wanted to avoid reprisals for violating China’s one-child policy.
– What she has taken on is commendable and should not have been criminalised, he said.
Sentencing in the case is expected on 9 December.
#California #couple #sentenced #birth #tourism #adressa.no
2024-09-15 02:29:53
What were the main charges against Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong in the birth tourism scandal?
Title: Birth Tourism Scandal: Couple Found Guilty of Money Laundering and Fraud
Meta Description: A federal jury has convicted Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong of running a birth tourism scheme, defrauding US immigration authorities and laundering millions of dollars.
Header Tags:
Birth Tourism Scandal: Couple Found Guilty of Money Laundering and Fraud
The Business of Deception: How Happy Baby USA Defrauded the US Government
A Lucrative Scheme: The Motivations Behind Birth Tourism
The Consequences: Sentence and Implications for Birth Tourism
In a landmark case, a federal jury has convicted Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong, the alleged masterminds behind a birth tourism scheme, of eleven counts including money laundering. The couple, along with a dozen others, was charged in 2019 for their involvement in the lucrative business of helping Chinese nationals give birth in the United States to secure American citizenship for their children.
The Business of Deception: How Happy Baby USA Defrauded the US Government
At the heart of the scandal was Happy Baby USA, a company run by Liu and Dong that offered services to pregnant Chinese women looking to give birth in the United States. For a hefty fee of $40,000, the company provided training on how to deceive US immigration authorities, including coaching on what to say during visa interviews and how to conceal pregnancies. The package deal also included accommodations in apartments while the women waited for the birth of their children.
A Lucrative Scheme: The Motivations Behind Birth Tourism
The prosecution argued that the couple’s business model was built on fraud, motivated by the promise of easier access to higher education, better job opportunities, and a more secure financial future for the children born in the United States. Under the US practice of jus soli, anyone born on American soil is automatically granted citizenship, which can later be used to secure residence permits for family members through family reunification.
The Consequences: Sentence and Implications for Birth Tourism
Liu and Dong’s convictions mark a significant blow to the birth tourism industry, which has been operating in the shadows for years. The couple’s sentence will be determined at a later date, but the implications of their guilty verdict are far-reaching. The case highlights the need for stricter regulations and greater oversight to prevent fraud and abuse of the US immigration system.
The Larger Context: Birth Tourism and Immigration Reform
The Happy Baby USA scandal is part of a larger conversation about birth tourism and immigration reform in the United States. The case raises questions about the ethics of birthright citizenship and the vulnerabilities of the US immigration system. As lawmakers grapple with reforming the country’s immigration policies, the conviction of Liu and Dong serves as a stark reminder of the need for stronger enforcement and greater accountability.
Conclusion
The conviction of Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong sends a strong message that fraud and deception will not be tolerated in the United States. As the nation continues to debate the complexities of immigration reform, the Happy Baby USA scandal serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of exploiting the system for personal gain.
Keywords: birth tourism, Happy Baby USA, Michael Liu, Phoebe Dong, money laundering, fraud, US immigration authorities, citizenship, immigration reform, birthright citizenship.
– What were the charges against Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong in the birth tourism scandal?
Birth Tourism Scandal: Couple Found Guilty of Money Laundering and Fraud
A federal jury has convicted Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong of running a birth tourism scheme, defrauding US immigration authorities and laundering millions of dollars. The couple, who operated Happy Baby USA, was found guilty of eleven counts, including money laundering, for their role in helping Chinese nationals give birth in the United States to secure American citizenship for their children.
The Business of Deception: How Happy Baby USA Defrauded the US Government
At the heart of the scandal was Happy Baby USA, a company run by Liu and Dong that offered services to pregnant Chinese women looking to give birth in the United States. For a hefty fee of $40,000, the company provided training on how to deceive US immigration authorities
