Chinese citizen pleads guilty to kidnapping in case linked to human smuggling

Press Release

Bellevue, Washington victim left critically injured when taken from work for failing to pay debt

Seattle - A 40-year-old citizen of China, who was residing in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Ji Wang was arrested on May 13, 2024, in the Los Angeles area. Wang was identified as one of the kidnappers linked to the May 27, 2023, abduction and assault of a worker at a hot pot restaurant in Bellevue, Washington. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart scheduled sentencing for March 4, 2025.

According to records filed in the case, Ji Wang was involved with a ring smuggling people across the southern border into the U.S. for a fee. The victim referred people from China who wanted to cross into the U.S., for the smuggling services. The victim was supposed to collect and transfer smuggling fees from those who used the smuggling services. The victim did not collect as high a fee as the smuggling group anticipated. Wang and a co-schemer traveled to Bellevue in May and physically removed the victim from his work and forced him into a sedan.

The men beat the victim and smashed his face into the cement and dragged him down a set of stairs. Witnesses quickly alerted Bellevue Police. Officers worked with the victim's girlfriend who placed a video call to the victim's cellphone. Wang answered the call and showed his face. Police recorded the call and were able to identify Wang.

Wang and his associate dropped the victim at a service station in Bellevue. The victim was critically injured and needed emergency surgery for swelling of the brain. He spent weeks in Overlake hospital. He has lasting physical and cognitive damage from the assault.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will cap their recommended sentence at eight years in prison. The actual sentence is up to Judge Robart and can be any sentence allowed by law. Kidnapping is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. Wang was not legally present in the United States and may be deported following his prison term.

The case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshal's Service Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Cecelia Gregson.

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Updated December 9, 2024