The Indian-origin duo Vishnubhai Chaudhari (50) and his partner Leelabahen Chaudhari (44) pleaded guilty on Monday in the federal court in Omaha, The Washington Post reported.
The couple was managing a Super 8 Motel in Kimball, a town near the Wyoming and Colorado borders. They were living in the US illegally, according to the reports published by US media.
Investigators said the victim was forced to clean rooms; wash clothes and do other work seven days a week. He was isolated from guests and assaulted regularly, the US authorities said.
Alex Khu, special agent in charge with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations said, “Human trafficking is the modern world’s version of enslaving another person for profit. That is what these individuals have done to this victim.”
The victim escaped with the help of a motel guest and local authorities, the US justice department said. His identity has not been revealed.
Omaha World-Herald writes that Chaudharis face up to 18 months in prison, according to their plea agreements. They are also expected to be deported from the US once their sentence is complete, according to the indictment.
