Influencer Pie Chung’s alleged Dine-and-Dash Scheme leads to eight arrests and possible deportation

Pie Chung, an influencer, has been hit with a litany of charges and an immigration warrant for her antics.

The Daily Mail has reported that Chung, 35, is currently behind bars on a string of theft-of-service charges for allegedly dining and dashing across 11 lavish restaurants. The BBC has reported that the influencer has been arrested and banned from eateries at least seven times since last month.

The Guardian has reported that Pie Chung allegedly failed to pay at restaurants in Williamsburg alone at least six times, including twice at a Michelin-starred brasserie, Francie. In October, she reportedly placed a $146 order before bailing on the check. She pulled a similar stunt at Peter Luger steakhouse, sharing pictures of her meal and posting a favorable review online.

The details of Pie Chung's legal woes explored as wannabe influencer faces possible deportation:

Employees at Peter Luger Steakhouse told NBC News that they found it odd that she stayed for hours. When she was handed the check, she allegedly informed the employees that she couldn't pay, instead offering items like kitchen scissors from her handbag as barter.

This Friday, Pie Chung dined and dashed at Mole in Brooklyn before she was apprehended. The owner reportedly said that when the influencer showed up for the third time, they alerted the authorities. She reportedly ordered $149 in food that she refused to pay for.

She has since been arraigned and jailed on Rikers Island. Her bail stands at $4,500 in cash, and she also reportedly failed to show up in court for previous similar claims. The owner of Mole told the New York Post:

“It’s only in New York City where someone like this becomes a folk hero.”

A manager of Peter Luger told the outlet,

“I’m glad there’s some sort of recognition being brought to the matter. She was getting away with it – way too often. And it’s just not right.”

The Daily Mail has reported that Pie Chung came to America in 2019 on a student visa from Taiwan. She was on a scholarship at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute until 2021. As of this writing, her immigration status and work permit in the U.S. remain unclear.

However, the outlet has reported that she has worked numerous jobs in New York over the years, as listed on her LinkedIn. She held a stint at Vanguard in 2021, after which she became a UIUX designer for Comcast. In 2023, she allegedly worked as a Senior User Experience Designer for eight months at Chase Bank.

The outlet has further reported that the lease on Pie Chung's studio apartment expired in August 2024, though she had already stopped paying her $3,350 monthly rent by then. She has since been ordered to vacate the premises by December 1, and now owes over $40,000 in backdated rent.

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.'

He also explained that immigration officers will likely apprehend her at Rikers prison and transport her to the immigration detention center.

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

The wannabe influencer is mostly seen wearing designer ensembles, including Louis Vuitton handbags and Hermes belt, on her social media accounts. She also regularly shares photos of carbonara, salmon and steak on her blog.

Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more.

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