Californian sentenced for helping Chinese women give birth in U.S. [Video]

LOS ANGELES –

 A California man was sentenced Monday to nearly three-and-a-half years in prison for running an extensive business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States to deliver babies who would automatically have American citizenship.

U.S. authorities had sought a five-year prison term for Michael Wei Yueh Liu, who was convicted in September of conspiracy and money laundering for running a company known as USA Happy Baby. Phoebe Dong, who was married to Liu — though the couple have since separated — was also convicted in connection with the scheme and is expected to be sentenced at a later date.

After receiving a 41-month sentence, Liu was led out of the courtroom by authorities and taken into custody. He gave his attorney his belt and a folder and held Dong’s hand briefly while she sobbed.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment immediately after Monday’s hearing.

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner said he reached the sentence determination by taking …