2023-07-20 03:38:00
A federal grand jury indicted Wednesday a Virginia couple for allegedly subjecting an immigrant to forced labor and physical abuse at a convenience store they owned, reported the US Department of Justice.
According to the accusation, Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 42, used “various coercive means” to force the victim to work long hours for minimum wage between March 2018 and May 2021.
The accused allegedly confiscated the victim’s immigration documents and subjected her to physical abuse, threats and degrading living conditions at a convenience store in North Chesterfield.
The couple is charged with 7 counts including forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and harboring an alien for financial gain, among others.
The victim was required to handle the till, prepare food, clean, and manage store records.
The indictment also alleges that the defendants harbored the victim after her visa expired for financial gain and committed bankruptcy-related fraud crimes.
The forced labor charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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