By Balitang America Staff

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A high-ranking representative of Taiwan was sentenced in federal court for fraud in foreign labor contracting after fraudulently obtaining two Filipino servants for her residence.

Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that
Hsien-Hsien “Jacqueline” Liu, 64, of Taiwan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays. The court accepted the binding plea agreement and sentenced Liu to time served. Liu has been in federal custody without bond since her arrest on Nov. 10, 2011. The court ordered Liu to pay $80,044 in restitution and to pay a fine, still to be determined, to cover the full costs of her incarceration and deportation, including the expense of the federal agents in whose custody she will travel.

The court also ordered Liu to be removed from the United States. She will remain in federal custody and be deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Under the terms of her plea agreement, Liu was required to waive her right to a hearing before an immigration judge and to pay a total of $80,044 in restitution for the two victims. The victims received those payments prior to today’s sentencing hearing.

Liu, who pleaded guilty on Nov. 18, 2011, was the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office located in Kansas City, Mo. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) is one of 13 offices responsible for maintaining close unofficial relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan.

Liu admitted that she fraudulently entered into employment contracts with two Filipino housekeepers, whom Liu then brought to the United States to work for her household on B-1 visas. Liu paid them significantly less than the contractual amount and forced them to work excessive hours. Liu’s restitution payment represents full restitution for the hours they actually worked, based upon a work schedule of 16-18 hours per day, six-and-a-half days per week. The victims have been certified as victims of a severe form of human trafficking under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. As a result, they will receive government support for a T-visa, which would allow them to legally live and work in the United States.