California Man Sentenced for Organizing Birth Tourism Scheme for Chinese Clients
A man from San Bernardino County has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for assisting clients in giving birth in the United States, allowing their children to obtain U.S. citizenship.
On December 16, a San Bernardino County man found guilty of managing a birth tourism operation was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison following his conviction in September.
After a four-day trial in September, a jury found Liu and Jing Dong, 47, also from Rancho Cucamonga, guilty of one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of international money laundering for operating a company named USA Happy Baby. Dong is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks.
Liu’s lawyer has not responded to a request for comment, and Dong’s attorney could not be reached.
In 2015, federal agents conducted searches at over a dozen locations across Southern California as part of a crackdown on birth tourism operations. Four years later, authorities charged Liu, Dong, and over a dozen others, including a woman who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 months for managing a firm called You Win USA.
According to the statement, Liu and Dong operated a maternity house in Rancho Cucamonga from at least January 2012 until March 2015. They were also accused of leasing apartments in Southern California to provide pregnant women from China with temporary accommodations and additional services.
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Authorities reported that they assisted their clients in obtaining visas to enter the United States, provided guidance for customs entry, housing, transportation, and help with legal documentation applications for babies born in the U.S.
After giving birth, the women typically returned to China within one to two months.
“For tens of thousands of dollars each, the defendant helped numerous clients deceive U.S. authorities and secure U.S. citizenship for their children,” federal prosecutors stated in legal documents. “This criminal conduct is severe and necessitates a substantial sentence to encourage respect for the law and ensure accountability for the defendant.”
Liu and Dong’s clients often falsified their visa applications regarding the purpose of their stay in the United States, claiming it was for tourism instead of childbirth, and misrepresented the length of their visit, as indicated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also provided incorrect information about their living arrangements, the statement noted.
Prosecutors alleged that Liu and Dong or their associates advised clients to travel to entry points perceived to have less scrutiny, like Hawaii, before heading to Los Angeles. They instructed clients to wear loose clothing to conceal their pregnancies, as well as which customs lines to use that were thought to be less strict. Liu and Dong, who received foreign funds and utilized that income to promote their business, also coached the women on how to respond to questions from officials, prosecutors added.
“My intention was always to uphold values of integrity and responsibility, so I regret any decisions that led us to this moment of judgment,” Liu told the court during his sentencing. “I have endeavored to provide stability for my family, but my imprisonment will put them in a more vulnerable position… I accept responsibility, but seek mercy.”
U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner stated that the family members of the defendants often bear the brunt of the consequences.
“These are choices you make, not choices made by the court,” Klausner remarked.
