Immigration agents at Peony restaurant again; no comment from officials

Once again, agents from the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have shut down the Peony Family Restaurant in Vinton, and are conducting an investigation. A uniformed Vinton police officer was standing guard outside the door at noon today, prohibiting unauthorized people from entering. Area television station reporters and cameramen are also in the area.

No further information is available at this time; Vinton Police Chief Jeff Tilson said there would be a press release coming in the near future from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cedar Rapids.

The owners of the restaurant Chan Duong and Polly Long, pleaded guilty late last year to harboring illegal aliens and agreed to the forfeiture of $800,000 in assets. The couple has not yet been sentenced in that case. See the story about Long's plea HERE. For a story about the initial investigation that led to the forfeiture, click HERE. That investigation first became public on Nov. 18, 2008, when ICE agents and others closed the business shortly before noon.

Comments

Submit a Comment

LO May 3, 2011, 2:51 pm This photo, with the officer standing under the blue awning, seems to send a confusing message that law enforcement was posted outside the law office, as well as outside the restaurant. This is misleading, as the only connection the law office has with the restaurant is a common wall.
(Editor\'s Note: The officer was indeed standing on the law office side of the common wall (we cropped the photo so that words from the sign were not visible) But look at where the TV camera is pointed....)

News : Immigration agents at Peony restaurant again; no comment from officials

Comments