Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-American couple charged with committing fraud, forced labour

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Jul, 2023 11:45 AM
  • Indian-American couple charged with committing fraud, forced labour

New York, July 20 (IANS) An Indian-American couple has been charged with multiple offences, including confiscating a worker's documents, forcing him to provide services for minimal pay and subjecting him to threats at their gas station and convenience store in Virginia.

Returning a seven-count indictment on Wednesday, a federal jury in Richmond laid a total of six charges against Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 42, of North Chesterfield region.

The charges include, conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor, alien harboring for financial gain, document servitude, conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud, and fraudulent transfers in completion of bankruptcy.

According to the court documents, between March 2018 and May 2021, Harmanpreet and Kulbir allegedly forced the victim to provide labour and services at their store.

The victim worked as a cashier, preparing food, cleaning and managing store records, the Department of Justice said in a release.

The indictment alleged that the couple used various coercive means, including confiscating the victim’s immigration documents and subjecting the victim to physical abuse, threats of force and other serious harm and, at times, degrading living conditions, to compel him to work long hours for minimal pay.

The indictment further alleges that the defendants harboured the victim after his visa expired for financial gain and committed bankruptcy-related fraud offences.

The charge of forced labor carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

MORE International ARTICLES

Indian-American missing in US national park amid heavy rain

Indian-American missing in US national park amid heavy rain
As heavy rain has lashed parts of the US, a search is underway for an Indian-American woman who went missing during a flash flood in Utah's Zion National Park.  On Monday, park spokesman Jonathan Shafer said that the search for Jetal Agnihotri, 29, who was swept away by a flash flood on August 19, has been extended.

Indian-American missing in US national park amid heavy rain

Two pilots fall asleep as flight misses landing in Addis Ababa

Two pilots fall asleep as flight misses landing in Addis Ababa
Data obtained by the website indicates that the aircraft was cruising at 37,000 feet on autopilot when it failed to descend at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, its scheduled destination, on August 15.

Two pilots fall asleep as flight misses landing in Addis Ababa

Trump ex-CFO pleads guilty to tax evasion, remains loyal former Prez

Trump ex-CFO pleads guilty to tax evasion, remains loyal former Prez
Trump was not charged. Weissleberg, a former CFO in Trump's businesses, pleaded guilty to 15 charges of felony involving tax evasion under the plea bargain deal his lawyers negotiated, citing his advanced age, but he never turned on his former boss. 

Trump ex-CFO pleads guilty to tax evasion, remains loyal former Prez

Rushdie's attacker says he's surprised author survived stabbing

Rushdie's attacker says he's surprised author survived stabbing
Hadi Matar, 24, said Rushdie, 75, was "someone who attacked Islam" but did not confirm that his actions were driven by a fatwa issued by Iran in the 1980s, reports dpa news agency. Matar pleaded not guilty through his lawyer to charges stemming from the assault and is currently being held at Chautauqua County Jail, in New York state.

Rushdie's attacker says he's surprised author survived stabbing

US offers more monkeypox vaccine to states and cities

US offers more monkeypox vaccine to states and cities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had previously anticipated allowing 221,000 doses to be ordered starting Monday. But officials said they would release 442,000 doses for order by state, local and territorial health departments.

US offers more monkeypox vaccine to states and cities

Biden calls India, US 'indispensable partners'

Biden calls India, US 'indispensable partners'
As the two countries also celebrate 75 years of establishing diplomatic ties, the US President said further, "India and the United States are indispensable partners, and the US-India Strategic Partnership is grounded in our shared commitment to the rule of law and the promotion of human freedom and dignity."

Biden calls India, US 'indispensable partners'