Press Release
DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO HARBORING ILLEGAL ALIENS AND MONEY LAUNDERING
March 6, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), Office of Investigations, Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, announced that defendant Hannah Chong plead guilty to charges of Harboring Illegal Aliens for Commercial Advantage and one count of Money Laundering.
According to documents contained in the court file and statements made in open court, on September 30, 2008, Hannah Chong, a United States Citizen, was arrested during the execution of three Federal Search Warrants. Chong was harboring two illegal aliens at Coral Spa, located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Chong sexually exploited these females for commercial advantage by allowing the females to commit acts of prostitution at Coral Spa. Chong also received a salary derived in whole or in part from work and activities performed by the illegal aliens. Chong then deposited the funds into her own bank account knowing that they represented the proceeds of her harboring activities.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative work of all of the investigative agencies involved. This investigation was led by ICE and conducted jointly with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and the IRS. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John McMillan.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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