A federal jury in Virginia has convicted an Indian-American couple of conspiracy to commit forced labour by luring a migrant to work at their gas station and convenience store.
Harmanpreet Singh, 30 and Kulbir Kaur, 43 were convicted of luring a minor to work at their business in Richmond. They had promised him an education in the United States but instead subjected him to hours of work, degrading living conditions and physical and mental abuse.
The US attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia said Singh and Kaur used various coercive means to compel the victim into working for them. They allegedly confiscated his immigration documents, subjected him to physical abuse, threats of force and other serious harm and, at times, degrading living conditions.
“These defendants engaged in an egregious bait-and-switch, luring the victim with false promises of an education in the United States and instead subjecting him to grueling hours, degrading living conditions, and a litany of mental and physical abuse,” said US Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The defendants also left the victim at the store to sleep in a back office for days at a time on multiple occasions, limited his access to food and refused to provide him with medical care or education. The couple also used surveillance equipment to monitor the victim both at the store and in their home.
According to court documents, Singh pulled the victim’s hair, slapped and kicked him when he requested his immigration documents back and tried to leave.
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