Immigration lawyer gets 21 months for trying to help client disobey court order, flee US
A California immigration lawyer was sentenced Monday to 21 months in federal prison for trying to help a client who was a material witness in a “birth tourism” case leave the country.
Prosecutors said Ken Zhiyi Liang, 39, accepted $6,000 from the Chinese woman to help her get out of the U.S., despite a court order requiring her to remain here, and advised her to get a prepaid cellphone, use WeChat and delete texts in an effort to avoid scrutiny. He was convicted in September, after a bench trial, of two obstruction counts and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, the Orange County Register reports.
The client, who reportedly was not charged, wore a wire to gather evidence against Liang. The prosecution was part of a sweeping federal enforcement effort concerning businesses that allegedly brought pregnant Chinese women to California on vacations so they could give birth in the U.S.
The government had sought a three-year prison term and a $50,000 fine for Liang. However, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Guilford, although he scolded Liang for failing his client and committing what the judge described as a serious offense, gave him less than two years and fined him $1,000. Liang will get credit for seven months he has already spent behind bars following his arrest and conviction.
The attorney apologized during the hearing for his “terrible judgment” and said he intends to give up his law license, the newspaper reports.
Earlier City News Service and Orange County Register stories provide more details about Liang’s indictment and conviction, respectively.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Immigration attorney arrested in federal sting, accused of trying to help client flee US”
