A naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese origin has pleaded guilty to charges of migrant smuggling conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, the Justice Department announced.

Haiyan Liao, 46, along with unnamed co-conspirators submitted visitor visa applications containing untrue statements to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou in southern China.

Liao, a resident of Las Vegas, then helped Chinese nationals whose visa applications were approved travel to America, accompanying them herself on commercial flights to New York {snip}

These Chinese nationals and their families, four of whom were unaccompanied minors, paid Liao thousands for the trouble. Liao reaped at least $98,673.72 in wire transfers from China.

{snip}