The Star Ledger reported that the women suffered beatings, psychological torture and sexual abuse. A federal judge in Newark described Afolabi's crimes as "horrific" and ordered him to also repay his victims $3.9 million in restitution.
But Afolabi didn't act alone; he had help. His ex wife, Akouavi Kpade Afolabi, and her son were also convicted in the scheme. The former wife will be sentenced in September for her wrongdoing; her son has been given 55 months prison time. The trio snuck the women into the U.S. using fake visas, authorities said.
I imagine that wasn't the only fraud used in this scam. Afolabi and his partners in crime probably wooed those unsuspecting women with promises of money and a shot at the good life in America. One can only imagine how that American Dream turned into a nightmare for the women who were forced to toil long hours day after day -- only to get abused physically, emotionally and financially.
Ironically, from the 16th to the 18th century, when Europeans came to Africa's shores searching for slaves, Togo and the neighboring region were such hotbeds of slave trading that the area earned the nickname "The Slave Coast." Sadly, this case shows that slavery apparently remains an issue for both Togo and the United States. Although slavery has long since been outlawed in America, human rights groups say that the heinous practice of slavery nevertheless still exists in the shadows. Perhaps that's because, no matter where you go worldwide, some people are so greedy and unfeeling that they'll do anything for a buck.
Source: http://www.bvonmoney.com
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