Sioux Falls Kitchen Manager Pleaded Guilty

Min Lin admitted to employing unauthorized workers at a local buffet restaurant.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Immigration

Sioux Falls Kitchen Manager Pleaded Guilty

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Should business owners face criminal charges for employing workers who lack legal authorization to work?

Min Lin, a kitchen manager at the Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet on 41st Street, has signed a plea agreement for employing unauthorized aliens. Lin was arrested alongside three accomplices in April 2025.

Why it matters

The case highlights federal enforcement actions against businesses that knowingly hire unauthorized labor for financial gain. The plea agreement marks a conclusion to the legal proceedings for the staff involved.

Min Lin agreed to forfeit $300,000 in profits and jewelry. The defendant faces a maximum of six months in prison and a $3,000 fine.

The players

Min Lin

Lin served as the kitchen manager at the Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet in Sioux Falls for nearly a decade.

Hui Weng

Weng is the owner of the Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet who was arrested alongside other staff members.

The details

Lin managed kitchen operations at the 41st Street eatery for nearly a decade before authorities initiated the case. As part of the agreement, all other co-defendants, including owner Hui Weng, have also entered into plea deals.

Lin and three accomplices were arrested in April 2025.
Lin signed the plea agreement on October 5, 2026.

Political Context

This case follows the established enforcement pattern of penalizing employers who violate the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Critics often argue that such enforcement measures fail to address the broader economic demand for labor in the restaurant industry.

The closure of this case indicates that federal oversight of local business hiring practices remains active in Sioux Falls. Residents may see changes in staffing or management protocols at restaurants as businesses navigate federal labor requirements.

The takeaway

Employers must strictly verify the legal status of all staff to avoid criminal charges and the forfeiture of business profits. Maintaining documentation is a fundamental requirement for operating any restaurant establishment.