Dine and dash influencer could be deported
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An aspiring influencer, notorious for causing havoc in New York City eateries by indulging in lavish meals without paying, might soon be deported.

Pei ‘Lu’ Chung, 34, has been slapped with an immigration warrant while she sits in jail facing multiple theft-of-service charges. These charges stem from an alleged pattern of dining and dashing at 11 upscale establishments, according to a report by the New York Post.

In 2019, Chung arrived from Taiwan on a student visa, having secured a scholarship to study at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, which was valid until 2021.

Her current immigration status is uncertain, as is her eligibility to work legally in the United States.

Despite this uncertainty, Chung has reportedly taken up various coding positions in New York City over the years, as indicated on her LinkedIn profile.

For four months in 2021, her resume states she worked at Vanguard, followed by a 10-month stint as a user experience designer and user interface designer at cable company Comcast.

Her most recent job was in 2023, when Chung claims she worked as a consultant for Chase bank as a Senior User Experience Designer for eight months.

Once that job was over, Chung stopped paying rent on her swanky $3,350-a-month studio apartment and her lease expired in August 2024. 

Chung had received a student visa in 2019, allowing her to come from her native Taiwan on a scholarship to attend Brooklyn's Pratt Institute until 2021

Chung had received a student visa in 2019, allowing her to come from her native Taiwan on a scholarship to attend Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute until 2021

She now owes more than $40,000 in backdated rent and has been ordered by a judge to vacate the premises by December 1.

But Chung may still be behind bars at that time, as she remains held at Rikers on a $4,500 bail following her seventh consecutive arrest for dining and dashing on Friday.

Authorities said she ordered nearly $150 in food from Mole Mexican Bar and Grill in Williamsburg, but refused to pay.

The influencer – who often shows off her high-priced clothing from Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Burberry – is now due to appear in court on Wednesday, after which, she will likely also have to face a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement hearing, immigration attorney Gadi Zohar told the Post.

‘It could trigger her being taken away if she had a visa that expired,’ he said, noting that her criminal charges ‘are probably what triggered the [immigration] warrant.

Zohar then went on to explain that immigration officers will likely pick her up from the notorious Rikers prison and take her straight to the immigration detention center.

‘Even if she raises bail, immigration won’t let her go,’ the lawyer said. 

She allegedly dined and dashed at 11 pricey restaurants in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, and was arrested seven times

She allegedly dined and dashed at 11 pricey restaurants in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, and was arrested seven times

Her current immigration status remains unclear, as does whether she is permitted to work in the United States, where she has racked up some debts

Her current immigration status remains unclear, as does whether she is permitted to work in the United States, where she has racked up some debts

Chung’s alleged dine-and-dash spree began in the Williamsburg area in late October at the ritzy restaurant Francie.

According to the Post, she ordered foie gras, carpaccio, bucatini, lamb and a chocolate mousse – totaling $188 – before attempting to barter with the restaurant for the meal.

‘She wanted to trade pictures and a blog post for the meal,’ owner John Winterman told the outlet. ‘I told her that would have needed to be agreed upon beforehand, and it wasn’t, so she needed to pay the check.’

When all her cards declined, Winterman said she claimed she was waiting for money from her family. She returned on November 7 and was arrested after allegedly refusing to pay an $83 tab, records show.

Days earlier, she racked up a $97 tab at Lavender Lake and left without paying, according to police.

She also visited Peter Luger’s Steak House on October 27, where she allegedly ran up a $146 bill and refused to pay. A manager alleged to the Post that Chung offered a sexual favor instead of payment. 

Chung's alleged dine-and-dash spree began in the Williamsburg area in late October at the ritzy restaurant Francie. She is pictured here at Hole in The Wall last week

Chung’s alleged dine-and-dash spree began in the Williamsburg area in late October at the ritzy restaurant Francie. She is pictured here at Hole in The Wall last week

She remains behind bars at the infamous Rikers prison on a $4,500 bail

She remains behind bars at the infamous Rikers prison on a $4,500 bail 

Late last month, Chung was arrested for allegedly refusing to pay a bill at famed steakhouse Peter Luger's

Footage shared with the Mail shows her being lead away in a squad car

Late last month, Chung was arrested for allegedly refusing to pay a bill at the famed steakhouse Peter Luger’s

Chung was also arrested after similar incidents at Sea Thai and Misi, police records show, but she was released under supervision, at which point she allegedly continued her scheme.

Staff at 12 Chairs said she walked out on Monday after refusing to settle her tab, and on Wednesday, the manager at Hole in the Wall asked her to leave mid-meal after recognizing her from recent coverage, employees at both restaurants told the Daily Mail.

Exclusive images obtained by the Mail show Chung seated alone inside Hole in the Wall, twirling pasta and sipping a cappuccino before her abrupt ejection.

Then, on Thursday night, the Daily Mail encountered Chung two doors down at the swanky Maison Premiere, playing with her camera by the bar. When approached for comment, she silently rose from her seat and moved to the back of the restaurant. 

She attempted to order a drink, but management refused to serve her and asked her to leave. She declined, and police were called. Chung then quietly slipped out moments before officers arrived.

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