LIU SENTENCED FOR HARBORING AN ILLEGAL ALIEN

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn announced today that Yong Di Liu, 49, formerly of Depew, New York, was sentenced today by United States District Court Chief Judge Richard J. Arcara to13 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. Liu was convicted of harboring an illegal alien. The 13 month prison sentence has already been served by the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati stated that Liu had previously admitted employing women whom he knew to be in the United States unlawfully at Chinese Acupressure, 5950 Transit Road, Depew, New York and Peking Yongdi Acupressure, 2327 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore, New York from at least November, 2006 through March, 2007. Liu also admitted that he concealed these women from detection for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain in that Liu shared in the proceeds and profits derived from the services performed by these women at these locations. Liu's businesses and 6 other "Acupressure" and "Spa" locations were shut down after federal, state and local law enforcement agencies executed search warrants at these locations on March 26, 2007.

This case was brought under the auspices of the District's Human Trafficking Task Force and Alliance (WDNY HTTFA). In November, 2006, the Attorney General announced the creation of this task force in the Western District of New York, one of 42 nationwide. The WDNY HTTFA is a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and non-government service organizations working together to identify, rescue and assist victims of human trafficking, human smuggling and other civil and human rights offenses in the 17 Counties of the District, through aggressive investigation, prosecution, training, education and outreach to law enforcement, non-government organizations, vulnerable and affected persons and the general public.

Yong Di Liu's conviction was the result of a joint investigation lead by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Lev J. Kubiak, and included the participation of: United States Custom and Border Protection, under the direction of James Engleman; the United States Border Patrol, under the direction of Chief Patrol Agent Kevin Oaks; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Laurie Bennett; the United States Department of Labor, under the direction of Assistant District Director, Michael Fitzgerald; the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Chella; the Town of Niagara Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police James Suitor; the New York State Police, under the direction of Special Investigations Unit Lieutenant William Saunders; the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Thomas Beilein; and the Erie County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard. The investigation and prosecution were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati.