Yardley Restaurant Owner Indicted on Human Trafficking Charges by NJ Grand Jury

Liu owns Golden China restaurant, on the block of Floral Vale Blvd, which is off of Stony Hill Road, close to I-95.

Prosecutors allege Liu paid employees for less than minimum wage at his area eateries.

Lawrence Township police received a tip from a local in September of 2016 regarding many people living in a home there. The home was owned by Chin Pang Liu.

Police officials reached out to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) court records say.

Investigators, according to court documents said they observed numerous men and women going back and forth between the Lawrence Township home and the restaurants in Lawrence and Yardley.

Detectives additionally obtained evidence alleging that those who were living in the house were illegally employed by Liu and being paid less than minimum wage without income being reported or taxed, and full-time employees receive no benefits, authorities said.

in 2018, “Residents are our eyes and ears, and continue to be a valuable asset to public safety,” Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri in announcing the arrests in 2018.

Yonglian Liu, also of New Jersey who was a frequent patron of the spa, authorities say was also charged.

He was often observed taking cash from the spa to the Yardley based restaurant, officials said.

Detectives determined the restaurant and spa were sites used in a prostitution ring.

Detectives said they seized $50,000 in U.S. currency from Liu during a warrant search of his residence. Liu reported an income of $100,000 for 2016, according to authorities.

Financial documents and cash seized during the execution of the search warrants confirmed that Liu failed to report a majority of his income.

If convicted on the human trafficking offense, Liu could potentially serve 20 years in state prison.