HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Indian couple abuse nephew, sentenced for human trafficking

Court gavel The couple face deportation after completion of their sentence followed by two years of supervised release

The couple—Vishnubhai Chaudhari, 50, and Leelabahen Chaudhari, 44, of Kimball, Nebraska—have also been asked to pay $40,000 to the victim. They face deportation after completion of their sentence followed by two years of supervised release.

The couple had pleaded guilty on December 18, 2017 to conspiracy to harbour an alien and one count of alien harbouring for financial gain.

The couple, who owned the Super 8 Motel in Kimball in Nebraska, forced their nephew, identified only as M.C., to work seven days a week without any pay. He was forced to clean rooms and bathrooms, to do laundry and shovel snow. The couple claimed he was not paid since he owed them money.

M.C. had entered the US unlawfully in 2011 and was taken into immigration custody in Texas. The Chaudharis got him released after paying for his bond. He then moved to Kimball with the couple's help.

The couple reportedly restricted the victim's movement and isolated him in the motel. He was not allowed to step out much and he was kept hidden from the guests and the police.

The couple, reportedly, abused and assaulted him regularly. Once, Leelabahen slapped on his face several times because he had failed to clean a bathtub properly.

The victim eventually escaped with the help of a motel guest and local law enforcement.

"Today's sentence, and the restitution awarded to the victim, sends a clear message that the Justice Department will use its full resources to prosecute defendants like this one who motivated by their greed violate our immigration laws and exploit a vulnerable individual who lacked immigration status," said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division.

"Human trafficking is the modern world's version of enslaving another person for profit. That is what these individuals have done to this victim," said Special Agent in Charge Tracy Cormier of HSI St Paul.