Thai Ginger Owner Varee Bradford Pleads Guilty to Trying to Marry Off Relatives to Staff

Varee Bradford used money to bribe employees into marrying her relatives.

As if being a waitress isn't hard enough. Rude customers. Shitty tips. That weird line cook who won't stop staring at your ass. And, if you happen to work at one of the five Thai Ginger locations in greater Seattle, a boss that tries to set you up with her cousin in Bangkok.

44-year-old Thai Ginger owner Varee Bradford plead guilty last Friday to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Her crime: paying employees thousands of dollars to enter into "sham marriages" with her relatives so they could stay in the U.S.

Bradford was arrested in June after a three year investigation revealed four separate instances where she paid male and female employees between $10,000 to $20,000 to marry immigrants looking to get a permanent green card. No word yet on whether Bradford's arrest has slowed business at her restaurants. But if they're still offering Meing Kham for $5, we're guessing even federal charges aren't going to keep Thai Ginger's customers away.