Pei Chung, the designer-clad dine-and-dasher from Williamsburg, could potentially face deportation back to her native Taiwan due to an immigration warrant issued against her. The 34-year-old influencer has been in jail since Friday on theft-of-service charges after skipping out on bills at multiple high-end restaurants in Brooklyn.
Chung, who has been flaunting her lavish lifestyle on Instagram with photos of designer shoes and handbags, came to the US in 2019 on a student visa to attend Pratt Institute on a scholarship. However, it is believed that she has overstayed her visa, leading to the immigration warrant against her.
Immigration attorney Gadi Zohar mentioned that Chung’s criminal charges likely triggered the immigration warrant, and she may be taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after her court appearance. It is also unclear whether Chung is authorized to work in the US, as her last job listed on LinkedIn was in 2023 as a consultant for Chase bank.
Chung’s spree of dining and dashing at upscale restaurants in Williamsburg has led to her arrest on multiple occasions. From offering sex for a free meal at Peter Luger steakhouse to stiffing eateries for meals like foie gras and carbonara pasta, Chung’s fraudulent activities have caught the attention of law enforcement.
Despite her bail being set at $4,500, Chung remains in custody, and even if she were to raise bail, she may still be detained by immigration authorities. Her lease on her luxury apartment in Williamsburg has expired, and she is facing eviction for falling behind on rent payments.
Chung’s extravagant lifestyle and entitlement have left restaurant owners frustrated, with one describing her actions as beyond mere entitlement. While she enjoyed fine dining experiences at restaurants like Mole Mexican Bar and Grill and Francie, her meals behind bars at Rikers will consist of more humble fare like “Pizza Pockets” and steamed cabbage.
As Chung awaits her court date and potential deportation, her Instagram feed, once filled with images of luxury and decadence, may soon reflect a starkly different reality. The consequences of her dine-and-dash escapades could lead to a significant change in her circumstances, from a social media influencer to a potential deportee.
