Honglian Cheng and Li Hua, also known as Lily, were separately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after their detention hearings last week.
Visiting federal Judge John C. Coughenour ruled that “there is a serious risk” that Honglian Cheng and Li Hua will not appear in their court hearings.
In his written order, Coughenour said “there is a preponderance of evidence” against Honglian Cheng and Li Hua.
The preliminary examination hearing for Honglian Cheng will be held on June 16, 2011, while that of Li Hua was set for June 28, 2011.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler is prosecuting the case, while the defendants are being represented by their court-appointed attorneys Colin Thompson and Bruce Berline.
Honglian Cheng is being held on two counts of unlawful employment of aliens, according to court documents.
Honglian Cheng was arrested by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations while she was about to depart Saipan on June 3, 2011 for China.
Li Hua is being held on charges of eight counts of violation of Title 8 of the United States Code, or making employment of unauthorized aliens unlawful.
She was arrested on June 5.
Li Hua was working for Honglian Cheng, according to U.S. HSI special agent Isra D. Harahap, the case’s lead agent.
