Former Managers of Nebraska Hotel Sentenced for Alien Harboring in U.S.

The federal court in Omaha has sentenced two former hotel managers in Nebraska to one year and one day in prison, followed by two years’ supervised release, and deportation to India for enslaving a nephew. The Indian-origin couple was accused of forcing the nephew to work without any compensation as well as isolating and abusing him.

Vishnubhai Chaudhari, 50, and Leelabahen Chaudhari, 44, of Kimball, Nebraska, were sentenced on March 19 in Omaha after previously pleading guilty on Dec. 18, 2017, to alien harboring for financial gain and conspiracy to harbor an alien, a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice said.

“The defendants also agreed to the entry of a stipulated judicial order of removal to India at the completion of their sentences and paid the victim $40,000 in restitution as a condition of their guilty pleas,” the statement added.

The couple, Indian nationals residing unlawfully in the United States, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18 in federal court in Omaha, to one count of conspiracy and one count of alien harboring for financial gain. The duo admitted to conspiring to harbor the victim, an Indian national who lacked immigration status, at Super 8 Motel in Kimball, Nebraska, between October 2011 and February 2013. During that time, the couple required the victim to work long hours, seven days a week at the motel.

He was asked to perform manual labor, including cleaning rooms, shoveling snow, and doing laundry. “Although the defendants promised to pay the victim, they never did, but rather claimed to apply that amount to a debt the victim owed.  The defendants further restricted the victim’s movement, isolated him, and verbally abused him,” the statement added.

Vishnubhai also threatened to find the victim if he ever left the motel, and Leelabahen regularly assaulted the victim, including on one occasion when she slapped his face several times because he had failed to clean a bathtub to her standards. The victim eventually escaped with the help of a motel guest.

“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,” Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division said.

“This case is a reminder that labor exploitation occurs in the United States, not just overseas, and federal law targets those who profit from human trafficking and related crimes,” U.S. attorney Joe Kelly for the district of Nebraska said, adding that this case is a testament that a conduct of this sort will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted in the district.