A Chinese woman living in California has pleaded guilty to running a “birth tourism” business catering to wealthy foreigners looking to give birth in the US so their children would gain citizenship, officials said.
Dongyuan Li, 41, copped a plea deal after she was accused of charging more than 500 expectant mothers thousands of dollars to help them secure their children’s US citizenship, the US Attorney’s Office in Santa Ana said Tuesday.
She was charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud and visa fraud in connection with the Orange County-based business.
Within two years, she raked in millions by helping pregnant foreigners — typically from China — travel to and remain in the US to deliver their babies, prosecutors said.
Through the scheme, she would charge each customer between $40,000 and $80,000 to help them obtain visas and living arrangements.
“Li also admitted that the customers were advised on how to pass the U.S. Consulate interview in China, including by falsely stating that they were going to stay in the United States for only two weeks, when in reality, they planned to stay for up to three months to give birth,” prosecutors said.
As part of her plea agreement, Li is required to fork over more than $850,000, a Murrietta property worth more than $500,000, as well as several Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
She is set to be sentenced on Dec. 16 and faces up to 15 years in prison.