Victims of Human Trafficking Forced to Work in Care Facility (CA, USA)

Four Named In Federal Indictment That Alleges Filipino Workers Were Victims Of Human Trafficking
Media Release

June 6, 2008

Leader of Long Beach-based Conspiracy Charged with Federal Forced Labor and Human Trafficking Violations

A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment that alleges Filipino nationals were smuggled into the United States and forced to work in two local residential elder care facilities. The indictment, which was returned yesterday afternoon, charges four defendants, two of whom are based in Long Beach and two of whom arranged to have aliens smuggled into the United States .
The four defendants named in the indictment are:

• Evelyn Pelayo, 51, a resident of Long Beach , who owns two elder care facility where the victims allegedly were forced to work;
• Rodolfo Demafeliz , 39, of The Phillippines, who arranged for aliens to enter the United States fraudulently, often under the pretense of participating in sport events;
  
• Rolleta Riazon, 28, of The Phillippines, who was Demafeliz’s assistant; and Darwin Padolina, 56, of Long Beach , who is Pelayo’s husband.

Pelayo, Demafeliz and Riazon were arrested in this case in early April, and they remain in custody. The superseding indictment adds Padolina as a defendant. Padolina is expected to surrender to federal authorities next week.

According to the court documents filed in this case, victims were recruited from the Phillippines with promises of employment in the United States . But, upon arrival, they were forced to work 24 hours a day to “repay” the defendants for bringing them to the United States .

All four defendants are charged with conspiracy, a charge that carries a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison. Demafeliz is charged with two counts of bringing and alien for financial gain, while Pelayo is charged with aiding and abetting him; both defendants face a mandatory three-year sentence. Pelayo is charged with two counts of harboring illegal aliens, two counts of forced labor, two counts of seizing passports and two counts of human trafficking. If convicted of all the charges, Pelayo faces a statutory maximum sentence of 140 years in federal prison.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

In Los Angeles , the FBI, ICE, the United States Attorney’s office and the Los Angeles Police Department, along with several community groups, comprise the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Task Force on Human Trafficking, whose mission is to improve tactics for identifying and rescuing trafficking victims, provide assistance to victims and prosecute those responsible for human trafficking.

The Human Trafficking Task Force in Los Angeles has established a toll-free hotline – (800) 655-4095 – which victims and individuals with information about victims are encouraged to call. Information provided via the hotline may be provided anonymously and kept confidential.

CONTACT: Assistant United States Attorney Sandy Leal
Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section
(213) 894-8649

Abridged

SOURCE: MurietaNewsBlog

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With global aging population, the demand for workers in Care Facilities will increase in many countries. If the demand is not met by local supply of workers, it is not surprising that foreign workers are brought one way or the other. It is imperative for governments to "fix" this problem before it get worse.

People who are considering placing their loved ones in care facility, should also lobby their government to ensure that background checks are made on carers. -----------------------------------------------------

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