Lawyers representing Pei Cheong, a woman from Brooklyn known for her repeated “dine and dash” incidents, have requested a psychiatric evaluation for her. In addition, a protective order has been issued against the manager of the restaurant where she was last involved in fraudulent activities.
“My client appears to be confused about the situation,” said McCarthy Hawkins, Cheong’s attorney, during her most recent arraignment. It seems she’s been in a tough spot.
At 34, Cheong, an aspiring influencer and designer enthusiast, has been reported to law enforcement at least ten times since the end of last month for allegedly eating or drinking at establishments without paying for her meals.
Her most recent arrest, which occurred on a Friday, involved accusations of stealing $149 worth of food from Mall Bar and Grill, a popular Mexican spot in Williamsburg, and refusing to settle the bill, according to prosecutors.
Cheong’s lawyer urged Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Chung Park to grant her supervised release, suggesting it would allow her to seek medical assistance on her own, as outlined in court documents.
She had been released after prior arrests, although during the proceedings, she oddly stated “no,” though her reasoning was unclear.
The judge ventured a guess, stating, “I think she doesn’t want supervised release,” noting that Cheong had left her previous arraignments without discussing this option.
Prosecutor Jordan Rothman requested that Cheong be held with either a cash bail of $10,000 or a bond of $20,000, since she has repeatedly dined and dashed, racking up bills totaling hundreds of dollars.
“She’s on supervised release and has been warned not to reoffend, yet here we are,” Rothman added, emphasizing the need for bail due to her continuing offenses against businesses but noted that such cases typically do not carry bail requirements.
Ultimately, the judge ordered an order of protection involving a $4,500 cash bail against the manager of the last restaurant where Cheong allegedly trespassed.
Cheong is currently being held at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island.
Her string of arrests began in late October and included establishments like Francie’s, Lavender Lake, and Motorino, where she allegedly posed as a culinary influencer to gain free meals.
A manager from Peter Luger claimed Cheong even suggested an exchange of sexual favors for complimentary food, while other restaurants asserted she attempted to secure free meals by promising to spotlight their businesses on her food blog.
Cheong, who flaunts designer items on Instagram, runs a blog where she reviews her dining experiences and often shares about lavish dishes on her social media. She’s next scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
