A National from Turkey Pleads Guilty to Encouraging and Inducing Illegal Aliens to Reside within the US Illegally

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Turkish National pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly encouraging and inducing illegal aliens to reside within the U.S. illegally.

Berk Balgic, 26, pleaded guilty today before Federal Magistrate Judge David P. Rush for knowingly encouraging and inducing illegal aliens to reside illegally within the United States. Mr. Balgic, who owned both Flaming Margaritas - Mexican Kitchen and Flaming Margaritas - American Kitchen in Branson, Mo., knowingly hired individuals who were within the United States either illegally or in conflict with their stated visas, to enter and remain in this country. Mr. Balgic, either himself or through others, directed these individuals to obtain false and fraudulent documents that appeared to support that they were in compliance with United States immigration laws, when in fact, they were not. Mr. Balgic received a material economic benefit from his illegal hirings by paying these works less than those who were either citizens of the United States or legally within this country.

On Aug. 20, 2025, agents with Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), along with other federal agencies, executed search warrants at the residence and restaurants of Mr. Balgic. This coordinated law enforcement action successfully located evidence and identified at least 13 individuals that Mr. Balgic knowingly and illegally employed at his two restaurants. During the investigation, HSI agents determined that Mr. Balgic had been knowingly hiring illegal immigrants to work at his restaurants starting at least in August of 2024, and continuing until Aug. 20, 2025, when law enforcement executed warrants.

Within the plea agreement between the United States and Mr. Balgic, he admitted his criminal conduct and agreed to consent to a request for judicial removal from the United State at the time of his sentencing. Immediately after being sentenced by the district court, Mr. Balgic will be taken into custody and then processed through an expedited deportation process that will return him to his native country of Turkey.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.