Co-owner of Vinton restaurant pleads guilty to harboring illegal workers

CEDAR RAPIDS – A 41-year-old Vinton woman pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to conspiring to harbor illegal workers and made false statements to Medicaid for health care.

Phung Ca Long, co-owner of Peony Family Restaurant in Vinton, pleaded guilty to conspiring to harbor illegal workers for commercial gain and making false statements to Medicaid relating to health care.

During the plea hearing, Long admitted she was engaged in a conspiracy to hire illegal aliens at the restaurant she operated with Chan Duong, also of Vinton. She admitted to hiring undocumented workers for commercial gain.

Long also admitted to making false statements to get a health care benefits valued at $23,716 from Medicare.

Long faces up to 15 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and restitution of $23,716.

Duong is scheduled to plead guilty to related charges Dec. 14.