New Jersey couple guilty of coercing undocumented immigrants into forced labor

NEW JERSEY — A New Jersey couple has been convicted of luring two women, both of them undocumented immigrants, to the United States and then forcing them to perform domestic labor and childcare, officials announced.

Bolaji Bolarinwa was found guilty of two counts of forced labor, one count of alien harboring for financial gain, and two counts of document servitude, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey said in a release on Wednesday. Her husband, Isiaka Bolarinwa, was also convicted of two counts of forced labor and one count of alien harboring for financial gain.

The Bolarinwas, U.Sc citizens born in Nigeria and living in Burlington County, baited the “victims with false promises of a life and an education in the United States, and instead subjected them to grueling hours, physical abuse and psychological abuse,” U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.

“Forced labor and human trafficking are abhorrent crimes that have no place in our society, and I am grateful to our team of prosecutors, agents and support staff for ensuring that justice was done in this case,” he added.

The first victim came to the U.S. in December 2015, investigators said. Upon her arrival, Bolaji Bolarinwa stole her passport and forced her into servitude with threats against both her and her daughter. She also subjected the woman to verbal abuse, isolation and constant surveillance in a bid to keep her working “every day, around the clock for nearly a year,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. It noted Isiaka was aware of his wife’s actions and “directly benefited” from the forced labor.

Their second victim traveled to the United States in April 2016 on a student visa. Bolaji similarly nabbed her passport and coerced her into performing household work and childcare. In this instance however, she relied “heavily on physical abuse.” Investigators added that Isiaka again directly benefited from her cooking, cleaning and childcare, and that he also abused the victim on at least one occasion.

The women remained trapped with the Bolarinwas until October 2016, when the second victim asked her college professor for help. The educator notified the FBI.

“Imagine showing up in a foreign land, hoping for a better life and ending up trapped with no place to go and no one to turn to for help,” said Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy of the FBI Newark Field Office. “The victims in this investigation suffered in unimaginable ways at the hands of their captors, enduring years of physical and mental abuse.”

He added: “Human trafficking often takes on many different forms and can hide in plain sight.”

Both suspects face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each forced labor count, and up to 10 years in prison for the alien harboring count. Bolaji is also facing a five years in prison for each unlawful document conduct count. The couple will also be required to pay mandatory restitution to the two victims and each face a fine on each count of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.