Alleged smuggler stands trial for human trafficking at Abilene noodle bar

Testimony began Tuesday in Taylor County’s 42nd district court in the trail of Gerardo Quijada-Soto, who is charged with Human Trafficking in connection to an investigation that took place at Fun Noodle Bar on 300 block of Southwest Drive in 2023.

Quijada-Soto is accused of smuggling an undocumented immigrant into Texas and eventually to Abilene, where he allegedly sold this immigrant to Fun Noodle Bar owner Hai Zhuang.

During the trial, and investigator revealed evidence on Quijada-Soto’s phone confirmed he was paid for human trafficking.

Prosecutors also showed pictures of a home on the 3500 block of Brook Hollow Drive, where the victim and other workers were allegedly kept. There were multiple mattresses in several rooms, including the garage, and there were tables with toiletries and rice cookers next to them.

The victim told investigators he was only allowed to have rice for the first three weeks then was denied food.

Court documents reveal more about the alleged crime, stating Zhuang told the immigrant he owed the restaurant 6 months of labor then he would be paid $2,000 a month, and that all his food and shelter needs would be covered.

However, this immigrant says Zhuang took him to a house in Abilene and hid his passport, and the documents state the immigrant claims he was then forced to work 10-to-12-hour days without even a bathroom break and was often not fed, forcing him to steal scraps that customers left at the restaurant.

A third suspect, restaurant manager Peilun Jiao, is accused of taking the immigrant to and from the house of Abilene, not letting him leave.

The documents state Jiao would threaten to call ICE so the immigrant would be deported.

This immigrant also said he was beaten by Zhuang, and when he requested his first $2,000 payment, Zhuang told him “that they owned him now,” according to the documents.

In July or August 2021, the documents state an unknown man helped this immigrant escape and go to Dallas.

Quijada-Soto’s trial is expected to continue in Taylor County for at least the next couple of days. Stick with BigCountryHomepage.com for any additional information.