Steven Wang charged in 124-count indictment

by Nick Delgado

Guam - A federal indictment obtained on December 22 was unsealed today. Steven Wang of Hua Sheng Construction was indicted on 13 counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of visa fraud, 63 counts of harboring an illegal alien, 32 counts of money laundering, and use of the mail in furtherance of the scheme.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, ICE agents and the IRS have spent months investigating Wang. U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco says Wang is accused of recruiting H2b workers to come to Guam from China and be paid Guam prevailing wages at $11 an hour. She adds that Wang illegally paid them $5.50 an hour and caused them to work 10-hour days, seven days a week as well as illegally charged them $1,000 per month for the first ten months they were on Guam.

She says authorities are working with the federal and local departments of labor, as they anticipate an increase in labor trafficking crimes with the military buildup. "We must continue to remind our community that violations of labor and immigration laws will be prosecuted and that there are serious legal consequences including imprisonment and fines. The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work closely with out local and federal counterparts in strengthening our response to these issues and pursuing federal prosecution," she said.

IRS agents also stated that the laundering of over a million dollars in alleged illegal proceeds was sure to be uncovered, and that no business is above the law.

Wang meanwhile pleaded not guilty today to the charges. He was released on his own recognizance with strict conditions and is set to go to trial on March 8 at 9:30am.