Restaurant owner convicted (KSNT-Topeka, KS)

Restaurant owner convicted

Last Update: 4/07 3:31 pm

A Topeka restaurant owner has been convicted on charges of illegally harboring Indian nationals who worked at his restaurant, including one who died after complaining he was being forced to work, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division announced Tuesday. The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

33-year old Amarpreet Singh, owner of the Globe Restaurant at 117 S.E. 10th in Topeka, was convicted on three counts of harboring illegal aliens who worked at his restaurant. A jury returned the verdict April 6 in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. Singh was charged with harboring three unauthorized workers – all of them Indian nationals – for commercial advantage or private financial gain by employing them, transporting them, and housing them in an apartment at 1215 Southwest Polk Street in Topeka.

According to evidence presented at trial, Singh was present on April 28, 2008, when police responded to a 911 call from the apartment, where they found the body of a deceased worker. At the time, Singh denied that the man who died worked at the restaurant and told police he was a homeless alcoholic who Singh was assisting because they both came from India. However, Singh admitted to police that he kept the deceased worker’s passport, driver’s license and other identification at the Globe restaurant.

Prosecutors also presented evidence that the defendant withheld workers’ wages and identification documents. Workers were required to work long hours six days a week at the restaurant and live in an apartment the defendant provided. “Illegal aliens who are harbored for work purposes are in jeopardy of being significantly abused, overworked and underpaid,” said Gilbert Trill, assistant special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Kansas City. “In addition, using an underpaid and illegal workforce gives a business owner an unfair advantage over competitors.” Till oversees the states of Kansas and Missouri.

Sentencing is set for July 13, 2009. Singh faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. Parker commended ICE Special Agent Brian Smithberg, the Topeka Police Department, and prosecutors John Cotton Richmond and Victor Boutros of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for their work on the case.