Feds: Seattle restaurateur paid 4 workers to marry

The owner of a Seattle area chain of Thai restaurants pleaded not guilty Tuesday to paying four of her 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. She was released on her own recognizance after entering her plea in U.S. District Court.

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. The three men and one woman allegedly were told the marriages would only have to last two years, until their spouses received green cards.

A co-defendant pleaded not guilty helping to set up a fifth marriage between an undercover immigration agent and a Thai woman. He is in immigration custody and could face deportation.

A message left at Thai Ginger's office seeking comment from Bradford's attorney was not immediately returned.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Otake said authorities believe the U.S. citizens knew the sham marriages were illegal and more charges could be filed.

The maximum potential prison term is 5 years on the conspiracy count and 10 years on each document fraud count.

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