Feds: Owner of Seattle-area Thai restaurant chain paid 4 workers to enter sham marriages

Feds: Seattle restaurateur paid 4 workers to marry

SEATTLE — The owner of a Seattle area chain of Thai restaurants has been charged with paying four workers to enter into sham marriages allowing three of her relatives and another Thai national to stay in the U.S.

Varee Bradford, who operates five Thai Ginger restaurants was arrested Tuesday on one count of immigration fraud conspiracy and three counts of immigration document fraud.

A grand jury indictment says three workers were paid $10,000 to more than $20,000. Another, who had been promoted to management, was loaned $3,780. They allegedly were told the marriages would only have to last until their spouses received green cards.

A message left at Thai Ginger’s office for Bradford’s attorney was not immediately returned.

On the Net:

www.thaiginger.com