California Man Sentenced for Birth Tourism Scheme

Michael Wei Yueh Liu, 59, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for running a birth tourism scheme through his company, USA Happy Baby, which helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the U.S. to give birth, thereby granting U.S. citizenship to their children. U.S. authorities initially sought a five-year term, citing the serious nature of Liu's actions, which involved deception in visa applications and charging clients up to $40,000 for services. Liu pleaded for leniency based on his family situation, including his elderly parents and 13-year-old son, which the court partially considered, leading to a reduced sentence. His wife, Phoebe Dong, was also convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Liu expressed regret for his actions, asserting that he intended to uphold integrity despite the legal consequences of his business. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner emphasized that the harm caused was a result of Liu's choices, not the court’s decisions.