NEWARK, N.J. — A man from the West African nation Togo has admitted his role in the smuggling of dozens of girls and women who were forced to work at hair braiding salons in New Jersey.
Lassissi Afolabi pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to conspiring with his ex-wife and others to commit forced labor and related crimes in Newark and East Orange, where he lived.
Afolabi has been held without bail since his arrest in September 2007. He could face up to life in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 8.
Prosecutors say between October 2002 and September 2007 at least 20 girls and women were taken from Togo using fraudulent visas. The girls were forced to work six or seven days a week and to turn over all of their earnings to the defendants. (Source)
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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5 comments
September 2, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Now this is just sad..... you know the world is crazy when people are getting kidnapped just to braid hair..
September 2, 2009 at 9:14 PM
People will do anything to make a dollar thats just horrible
September 2, 2009 at 9:48 PM
I heard of this when it first broke (it was breaking news over here) and I was caught by surprise. Now I have to give all salons the side eye. You never know who's braiding your hair or what they REALLY had to go through to get it done :@(
September 3, 2009 at 3:40 AM
SMDH. This is so sad!
September 13, 2009 at 2:18 AM
This would be a good reason for a braider to catch an attitude....wow!
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