MONTCALM COUNTY, MI — A Chinese national convicted of operating a large-scale marijuana grow operation in rural Montcalm County may now face deportation despite having legal status in the United States.
Weida Liu, 38, pleaded guilty September 4 to one felony count of delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance involving more than 200 marijuana plants after a raid earlier this summer at a property on Satterlee Road in Montcalm Township. A second charge was dismissed under a plea agreement.
Liu was sentenced Thursday to time served — just 11 days in jail — and one year of non-reporting probation by Judge Suzanne Kreeger. The judge agreed to suspend the remaining jail time and allow Liu to relocate to Seattle if he pays his fines and complies with court and immigration requirements.
Assistant Prosecutor Megan Billock told the court that Liu’s cooperation “provided important information the people were able to use in other cases.”
However, Liu’s legal status is now in jeopardy. A Michigan Department of Corrections officer informed the court that Liu is currently in “removable status” under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Liu, speaking through a Mandarin interpreter, reacted in disbelief.
“You mean deported back to China? How can I be deported? I have to raise my kids here,” he said.
Judge Kreeger responded bluntly.
“That’s not my decision, sir. I understand that you were here legally in the United States. But when you break a law, Immigration Control and Enforcement can revisit whether or not you should stay here.”
Montcalm County Prosecutor Tom Ginster also confirmed that civil forfeiture proceedings have been filed against the property owner, Situ Shi Pei of Chicago. Both Shi Pei and another potential co-defendant, Donghong Li, are currently in ICE custody.
