Bay Area Care Centers Owners Charged With Human Trafficking, Theft

[appalachiablue]

Source: SF Gate

The owners of six Bay Area residential care homes were arrested and charged with human trafficking and grand theft in a sweeping probe by state law enforcement officials who uncovered a trove of illegal weapons in recent raids, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Friday.

Surrounded by 14 seized assault weapons, including three untraceable "ghost guns," Becerra outlined 59 charges against four members of the Gamos family: Joshua Gamos, 42; Gerlen Gamos, 38; Noel Gamos, 40; and 67-year-old Carlina Gamos.

The family operated the now-shuttered Rainbow Bright care centers -- four adult and two child care facilities -- in South San Francisco, Daly City and Pacifica.

The family allegedly exploited hundreds of Filipino immigrants over nearly a decade, cheating them out of $8.5 million in wages while failing to pay state and federal income taxes and workers compensation. Operators forced employees to work 24-hour days and sleep on floors and in garages, according to the complaint filed by the attorney general's office...More...

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/bay-area-care-centers-owners-charged-with-human-trafficking-theft/ar-BBN1qQ3?li=BBnb7Kz#image=BBN1qQ3_1|1

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In some cases, workers were locked outside in the rain when the owners were not home, officials said. In three cases, victims were raped, Becerra said.
"No worker in the United States should live in fear or be subjected to violence, abuse or exploitation at the hands of their employer," he said. "The charges against the Gamos family members are despicable. We must not turn a blind eye to abusive labor practices. Report it, and we will investigate and prosecute." The family kept employees silent by threatening to turn them over to federal immigration officials and confiscating some of their passports.

The 4 family members were charged with 26 counts of grand theft, 1 count of conspiracy to commit grand theft, 8 counts of human trafficking, 1 count of conspiracy to commit human trafficking, 9 counts of fraudulent tax filing, 9 counts of failing to pay unemployment insurance taxes, 1 count of worker compensation fraud, 1 count of failing to secure workers compensation insurance, and 3 counts of rape.

[elmac]

1. criminal employers use the tough imigration laws

knowing they can get away with this because workers are afraid of getting deported or worse. There are no illegal immigrants, only illegal employers.

[jmbar2]

2. you nailed it

There are no illegal immigrants, only illegal employers.

[appalachiablue]

3. Many people fail to understand that dishonest employers,

of any background illegally work, exploit and abuse employees. It's widespread here and world-wide for years unfortunately, foreign workers who are used and intimidated in restaurants, farming work, plants, etc. The same years ago and now, native- born and foreign laborers underpaid, overworked and exploited in factories and mines for profit & gain.

Friends of ours know Heat & A/C Co. workers from Pakistan in the US who are being overworked, exploited and threatened by their employer and company owner who is also of Pakistani background. We met the employees who are dependent with no options. It was sad especially since none of us could help, and we tried. Hopefully their situation improved over time.

[dalton99a]

4. +1

[hunter]

5. If labor laws were strictly enforced undocumented immigration wouldn't be a problem.

Criminal employers like these are able to exploit undocumented workers who fear deportation, prison, or worse treatment (having their children taken away, etc..) by U.S. government agencies.

Every employee who testifies against monster employers such as these, or against abusive immigration authorities and law enforcement, should be provided a straightforward path to citizenship.

People found guilty of abusing undocumented workers ought to serve prison time.

[iluvtennis]

6. +++ agree