The woman who was found guilty of human trafficking in Westmoreland County and awaiting deportation is continuing to appeal her conviction, but wants to do so without the help of her current lawyer.
The Trib reports that 48-year-old Hui Xu appeared for court Monday and, with the help of a Mandarin translator, asked to fire the Philadelphia-based lawyer who was representing her during the appeal. Xu pleaded guilty in 2019 to two counts of human trafficking and single charges of conspiracy and promoting prostitution. Police said she operated massage parlors in Murrysville, Delmont and Monroeville, where workers performed sex acts for clients.
Xu served an 11½- to 23-month jail sentence and was released from custody in 2021, but a US Immigration judge previously ordered her to be deported. China has refused to allow her to return.
“My plea to guilty was based on lies, and my attorney’s advice was misleading,” Xu said through an interpreter following Monday’s hearing. “My attorney lied to me and didn’t tell me the consequences if I pleaded guilty.”
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