US-Based Nigerian Couple Face 20 Years in Prison for Forced Labor and Human Trafficking

The jury found the couple guilty of two counts of forced labor, one count of sheltering a stranger for financial gain, and two counts of document servitude. The evidence presented during the two-week trial revealed that the couple, who are American citizens originally from Nigeria, recruited two victims to come to the US and then subjected them to physical and psychological abuse, isolation, and constant surveillance.

A federal jury in Camden, New Jersey, has convicted a Nigerian couple, Isiaka and Bolaji Bolarinwa, of forced labor and other related crimes, including human trafficking, with a possible 20-year prison sentence. The couple, aged 67 and 50, respectively, used a coercive scheme to force two individuals into domestic labor and childcare services.

The jury found the couple guilty of two counts of forced labor, one count of sheltering a stranger for financial gain, and two counts of document servitude. The evidence presented during the two-week trial revealed that the couple, who are American citizens originally from Nigeria, recruited two victims to come to the US and then subjected them to physical and psychological abuse, isolation, and constant surveillance.

The victims were lured to the US with promises of benefits but were instead betrayed and exploited. The couple confiscated their passports, threatened them, and degraded them to coerce their labor. The victims suffered unimaginable physical and mental abuse, including grueling hours and physical harm.

The US Department of Justice described the couple's actions as a "heinous crime" and a "bait-and-switch" that subjected the victims to forced labor and human trafficking. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each forced labor count and 10 years for the alien harboring count. They will also be required to pay mandatory restitution to the two victims and face a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss from the offense.

This verdict sends a clear message that human trafficking and forced labor will not be tolerated in the US, and those responsible will be held accountable. The FBI and US Attorney's Office have commended the agents and victim specialists who worked on this case, and encourage anyone who is a victim of human trafficking to come forward and seek help.

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