Posted on 01/13/2026 12:13:18 PM PST by nickcarraway
Court documents allege trafficking, stash houses, and employing illegal immigrants
A federal investigation is underway into a Phoenix restaurant owner accused of harboring undocumented immigrants and employing them in a “sophisticated operation” across the Valley.
According to a federal court filing, Yung Lau, the owner of multiple sushi restaurants, is accused of human trafficking and knowingly employing people who are not citizens of the United States.
Lau has at least partial ownership of Sakura Sushi locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Gilbert.
Court documents show that undocumented workers were living in “stash houses” in the East Valley. Some workers were reportedly paid in cash. According to officials, workers are believed to have been paid below minimum wage and no overtime.
Local law enforcement was reportedly alerted to suspicious activity in 2023 and 2024, including the use of vans transporting people.
Thirty-one people were arrested earlier this month at multiple locations, including Lau.
Court documents say Lau admitted to knowingly hiring undocumented workers, housing them, and paying them in cash because “it was hard to find workers.”
It is also alleged that Lau utilized a recruitment network extending into Mexico and Central America for multiple years.
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Paying them in cash because
No trail or taxes paid time for Yung Lau to pay up.
MMMMM. Illegal migrant sushi.
Where can I gets me some?!
Since race discrimination in hiring is illegal you would think that all the white and native born black employees in these ethic restaurants would turn these Mexican and Oriental businesses in.
Just kidding.
Let me translate: ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS
UH, these one are slaves, kidnapped and brought here against their will.
They aren’t here against their will. They are here working for the trafficker against their will.
Basically the trafficker makes a deal with them to pay to smuggle them in, in return they have to work for them for a certain number of years to pay it back (kind of live indentured servitude agreements).
Usually they end up working more hours and in worse conditions than the original agreement, and get room and board deducted at higher prices from the debt and other forms of getting taken advantage of, but because they are illegal and don’t speak English, they don’t have the ability to complain.
Lau
He looks kinda like Gustavo Fring.
A little late to this party. This has been going on for some time, and one of the restaurants is around the corner from me. No one suspected this was going on. I guess good sushi is hard to find, especially in AZ.
Funny thing is, after all the arrests and the like, the restaurants are back open and operating like normal right now. Have been for a few weeks.
OK, so deport the ones who brought them here, or throw them in prison, at the very least.
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