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Togolese Man Sentenced in N.J. Forced Labor Case

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Togolese man sentenced in NJ forced labor case


An East Orange, N.J., Togolese man was sentenced to 26 months in a federal prison in connection with the forced labor of dozens of young West African girls and women working throughout New Jersey hair braiding salons on Wednesday.

Geoffry Kouevi was just one link in a chain of human trafficking conspirators who brought the girls and women to this country with fake visas. The victims were required to work six to seven days a week for 8 to 14 hours a day and were required to hand over their earnings, including tips to Kouevi and his accomplices Lassissi Afolabi, his ex-wife (Akouavi Kpade Afolabi) and Dereck Hounakey (Akouavi's son).

Court documents state that the women were not allowed to keep any identification, not even their passports. They were also not permitted to leave their residence, make any friends and were forbidden to contact family members. If the strict rules were broken, the women would be punished.

Hounakey has admitted to having sex with many of the women, including a minor.

Lassissi Afolabi was sentenced last month to more than 24 years in prison, after pleading guilty to conspiring with his ex-wife and her son to commit forced labor.

While Akouavi's son has received a 55-month prison term, Akouavi will be sentenced next month.



 

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