Lake Oswego Restaurant Owner Gets Prison In Forced Labor Scheme

PORTLAND, OR – Paul Jumroon, who with his wife used to own Curry in a Hurry in Lake Oswego, will spend the next 37 months in prison after being being convicted of an immigration-related forced labor scheme. He will also have to pay $251,000 in fines and restitution.

Jumroon received his sentence from Federal Judge Anna Brown on Tuesday.

He had pleaded guilty to charges of forced labor, visa fraud conspiracy, and filing false tax returns.

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"Paul Jumroon's violation of the law by obtaining fraudulent visas and exploiting vulnerable individuals for his own personal profit is disgraceful," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband.

"The Department of Justice will continue to prosecute traffickers vigorously and secure justice for victims who have been mistreated and degraded by criminals."

Prosecutors say that Jumroon and his wife, Tanya, lured four chefs from Thailand with the promise of a visa and lies about how much money they would make. Once they were here, he confiscated their passports and travel documents, and threatened them and bullied them into working long hours for little pay.

The couple also failed to report cash income from their restaurants in four years of tax returns.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jumroon bullied and intimidated employees that trusted them in order to line their own pockets," IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge, Troy Burros said.

"The defendants thought they were above the law. They abused multiple victims and stole money from the American taxpayers. Today’s sentence demonstrates the government's determination to hold them accountable for their actions."

Tanya Jumroon will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Photo via Shutterstock.