Restaurant owner pleads in illegal workers case

? The owner of restaurants in Kansas City, Missouri and Olathe, Kansas, has pleaded guilty to employing and harboring several illegal workers.

Forty-year-old Wei Liu of Olathe pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for private financial gain.

Several of his family members, including his wife, 36-year-old Xiang Liu, pleaded guilty to other charges in the case. Liu and his wife owned Wei’s Super Buffet restaurants in Olathe and Kansas City.

Prosecutors say Wei Liu admitted that he employed at least 12 illegal workers in his two restaurants, paid them in cash and provided them with housing without charging for the rooms.

Xiang Liu pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the Department of Homeland Security.