There’s a lot happening with Pei Chong, the 34-year-old accused of dining and dashing. A Brooklyn judge mandated a psychiatric evaluation for her after her lawyer claimed she was unable to grasp the charges against her.
During a recent hearing, attorney Henry DeCharles initiated a request for a mental health examination, known as a “730 test,” highlighting Chong’s struggles to understand why she hadn’t paid for her meals.
Interestingly, Chong didn’t even show up in court as her lawyer waived that right for her. DeCharles stated that she doesn’t fully comprehend the serious nature of the allegations. She seems to have some difficulty engaging in a meaningful dialogue about her situation.
The judge, Hemaly Patel, seemed to agree and set a court date for December 17, while Chong remains detained on Rikers Island.
This case is quite the saga. In the past month, Chong has reportedly called the police at least ten times for claims of skipping out on restaurant bills.
Latest on the Dining and Dashing Drama
Restaurant employees from various establishments, including Francie’s, Lavender Lake, Motorino, and Peter Luger, have shared similar accounts of Chong’s antics. She presents herself as a culinary influencer, frequently dressed in designer outfits.
The luxury items she flaunted on her Instagram, including clothing worth over $10,000, stand in stark contrast to her alleged behavior as a non-paying diner.
At a dinner in Francie’s on October 22, she ordered lavish items—foie gras, carpaccio, bucatini, lamb, and dessert—yet, it seems she didn’t pay for any of it.
It gets more complicated. Chong has been accused of trying to use credit cards that didn’t work and even sought to post free meals online. According to reports from Peter Luger’s staff, there were moments when she hinted at exchanging sexual favors for payment.
Despite facing multiple arrests, her alleged fraudulent activities have persisted, and she has reportedly mocked the police on social media. One of her posts commented on a police officer taking away her takeout food after she supposedly didn’t pay for a $123 meal at Si Thai in Brooklyn.
The legal troubles for Chong escalated recently when a judge set her bail at $4,500, and immigration authorities are also looking into her status following concerns that she may have overstayed her student visa from Taiwan.
Currently, she finds herself on Rikers Island, far from the gourmet meals she previously bragged about on her blog. Now, she’s stuck with a menu that reportedly features something far less appetizing.
