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Showing posts with the label forced labor

Three Convicted of Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor and Immigration Offenses on Long Island, N.Y.

WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Central Islip, N.Y., today found Antonio Rivera, 36, and Jason Villaman, 33, guilty of conspiracy, sex trafficking, forced labor, alien harboring and alien transportation, the Justice Department announced today.   John Whaley, 31, was convicted of conspiracy, forced labor, alien harboring and alien transportation.   The charges arose in connection with the defendants operation of two bars, Sonidos de la Frontera in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., and La Hija del Mariachi , in Farmingville, N.Y.   Rivera was the owner of the bars, and Whaley and Villaman transported the victims to and from the bars.   Villaman also worked as a security guard at Sonidos de la Frontera .             The government’s evidence at trial established that the defendants and others compelled undocumented Latin American women from Honduras, Guatelmala, Mexico and El Salvador, hired as waitresses...

2 sentenced in Pennsylvania in forced labor case

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Two people were sentenced on February 11 on forced labor trafficking, marriage fraud and forced labor organization charges in federal court for their involvement in a forced labor organization investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Central Pennsylvania. Lynda Dieu Phan, 39, and Duc Cao Nguyen, 41, both of New Cumberland, Pa., were sentenced to a 90-day term of imprisonment followed by 270 days of home arrest and one year of supervised release. The judge further ordered that Phan pay $300,000 in restitution. The court's order also included the forfeiture of a 2008 Toyota Highlander and $185,416.82 that was seized. Nguyen was sentenced to a one-year term of probation and a $1,000 fine.