Photo: Getty Images North America
A 'Modern-day slavery' ring was busted in Georgia. According to prosecutors, workers were raped, kidnapped, and imprisoned in dismal camps.
After a multi-year investigation into human smuggling and labor trafficking on South Georgia farms, two dozen people were charged on federal conspiracy counts. In November 2021, the indictment, USA vs. Patricio et al., was unsealed.
According to a federal indictment, the fraudsters made more than $200 million by bringing over 100 migrants from Mexico and Central America to the United States. At least two people died as a result of the appalling working circumstances, which included workers being forced to handpick onions at gunpoint for barely .20 cents per bucket in blistering heat, and another being kidnapped and raped repeatedly.
The migrant's passports and documents were purportedly removed from them to prevent them from fleeing.
According to the Department of Justice, the operation is one of the country's largest human trafficking and visa fraud investigations.
Full story at nbcnews.com.