LI 7-Eleven Owner Admits To Hiring Undocumented Immigrants

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Northport man pleaded guilty Wednesday to hiring undocumented immigrants to work at his 7-Eleven franchise in Brentwood, according to Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

In federal court in Central Islip, 55-year-old Yong Min Choe, also known as Jason Choe, entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert for conspiracy to conceal and harbor the workers, the U.S. attorney said. When sentenced, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to twice the value of the gross gain. In addition, Choe agreed to forfeit more than $1.3 million in assets that represent proceeds of the offense.

In March 2004, Choe began operating the 7-Eleven store and, as part of the franchise agreement, agreed to abide by state and local labor laws, Donoghue's office said. Between 2004 and November 2019, he hired people who did not have authorization to work in the U.S. and allowed those employees to use false social security numbers and other personal identifying information, prosecutors said. As a result, Choe paid his employees substandard wages and enriched himself, Donoghue's office said.

"The defendant conveniently used his convenience store to harbor and exploit alien employees and steal wages," Donoghue said.