5 from north Gujarat arrested in US federal probe: Charged with labour, sex trafficking; visa fraud under investigation

AHMEDABAD: A federal probe into hotels in Nebraska has led to the arrest of five individuals from north Gujarat on serious trafficking charges. Four men and a woman, all relatives, were arrested on charges of labour trafficking, sex trafficking, and harbouring undocumented migrants. Prosecutors allege the group used their hotels as hubs of exploitation, forcing minors as young as twelve and several adults into abusive work and living conditions. Investigators also suspect the properties doubled as sites for drug trafficking.All five accused appeared before a federal court in Omaha on Thursday. The magistrate judge ordered them to remain in custody until their detention hearings scheduled for next week. Prosecutors argued that the group posed a flight risk as all were living in the US without legal status.Those arrested have been identified as Ken Chaudhari, 36, of Elkhorn; Amit Prahlad Chaudhari, 32, of Omaha; Amit Babu Chaudhari, 33, of Omaha; and Maheshkumar Chaudhari, 38, of Norfolk. The fifth accused is Rashmi Ajit Samani, 42, of Elkhorn. Prosecutors said all five are related to each other and were living in the country illegally.According to the US Attorney's Office, federal, state, and local agencies executed search warrants at 14 locations on Aug 12. These included four hotels owned or managed by the accused: AmericInn on South 13th Court in Omaha, The Inn on South 145th Street in Omaha, The New Victorian Inn on L Street in Omaha, and Roadway Inn on Fort Crook Road in Bellevue."During the operation, officers said they rescued 10 minors under 12 years of age and 17 adults. The complaint affidavit alleges the victims were made to work long hours with little or no pay, while being charged for lodging in unclean and unsafe conditions," reads the US attorney document.According to the official statement of the US attorney, the defendants allowed and encouraged sex trafficking at the hotels. Victims, both minors and adults, were allegedly subjected to exploitation by traffickers as well as hotel employees.Investigators also allege the hotels were used for drug trafficking. Court documents state at least one hotel kept Narcan at the front desk due to frequent overdoses.Prosecutors said Ken Chaudhari and Rashmi Samani, who are husband and wife, face additional charges of visa fraud and misuse of immigration documents. Court records state the couple is in the US illegally with pending U-visa applications. Agencies are also investigating if the couple filmed the act.The accused were ordered to remain in custody. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Aug 22 in federal court.