Dearborn Co. Prosecutor Requests To Seize New China Buffet Property

By Travis Thayer Jin Lin (left) and Hui Liu. Jian Lin is not shown. Photo by Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department. (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The New China Buffet property in Lawrenceburg could soon be seized under state and federal laws. In October, police raided the New China Buffet at Dearborn Plaza after their owner and managers were accused of failing to pay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes. Dearborn County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard filed a petition on December 11 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act to seize assets of the owners Jian Lin and his wife, Jin Lin. "They possess real and personal property and intangibles, held in Dearborn County," said Negangard. Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit investigators say New China Buffet did not pay $38,857 in taxes to the Indiana Department of Revenue for sales ranging from July 1, 2014 up until the day of the raid. During multiple visits to the restaurant, detectives noticed that multiple transactions were conducted with the cashier never closing the cash register drawer to close out each sale. Negangard says the couple have continued to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, deriving property, profits and income, which means their property can be seized. Jian Lin, Jin Lin, and their niece Hui Liu have been charged with Corrupt Business Influence (level 5 felony), Theft (level 6 felony), and Money Laundering (level 5 felony). Jin Lin faces an additional charge of Perjury (level 5 felony). All three suspects are residents of Greendale. RELATED STORIES:  Racketeering Allegations Behind October Raid On Chinese Restaurant