Prison for man who helped pregnant Chinese women travel to give birth in US

A California man was sentenced Monday to nearly 3½ years in prison for running an extensive business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States to deliver babies who would automatically have American citizenship.

US authorities had sought a more than five-year prison term for Michael Wei Yueh Liu, 59, who was convicted in September of conspiracy and money laundering for running a company known as USA Happy Baby.

Phoebe Dong, Liu’s wife – though the couple have since separated – was also convicted in connection with the scheme and is expected to be sentenced early next year.

After receiving a 41-month sentence, Liu was led out of the courtroom by authorities and taken into custody. He gave his lawyer his belt and a folder and held Dong’s hand briefly while she sobbed.

In court, Liu had pleaded for leniency to care for his elderly parents and 13-year-old son, all of whom depend on him, while about a dozen supporters, many from his church, attended to provide moral support. Liu said his family has suffered deeply for nearly a decade since a 2015 raid on his business.