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A Long Island catering manager was sentenced in federal court in Central Islip on Wednesday to six years in prison for his role in a forced labor scheme.
Roberto Villanueva had pleaded guilty in February to forced labor and forced labor conspiracy that took place at the Thatched Cottage in Centerport.
“Villanueva exploited his victims’ immigration status, promising them the American dream, but instead threatening arrest or deportation if they didn’t work 16 hours a day, often unpaid, sleeping on bug infested mattresses covered in garbage bags, without heat or hot water,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. “This sentence highlights our Office’s commitment to bringing abusers to justice.”
A former recruiter and manager for the Thatched Cottage, Villanueva said at his plea proceeding that workers were brought from the Philippines to the United States on H-2B visas that expired shortly after their arrival, officials said. Once their visas expired, Villanueva coached workers to apply for student visas by fraudulently claiming that they intended to attend school full-time and had the resources to support themselves during school.
Villanueva had said that his actions were done in concert and agreement with Ralph Colamussi, the former owner of Thatched Cottage, officials said. Villanueva said that at times he deposited funds in the workers’ bank accounts to give the appearance of ample resources, and then withdrew the funds once the student visas were approved. When workers objected to performing certain jobs, working consecutive shifts or not being paid promptly, Villanueva threatened to report them to the police or immigration authorities, according to officials.
“Villanueva knowingly manipulated these workers using bait-and-switch tactics to coerce and control them, forcing them to live in squalid conditions with a constant threat of physical harm if they failed to comply with his ever-escalating demands,’ Acting Special Agent in-Charge Michael Alfonso for Homeland Security Investigations in New York said in a statement.
Alfonso said the sentencing “sends a strong message that human lives are not commodities and these workers deserved dignity and respect. HSI is committed to working together with our partners to fight human trafficking 2 in all its forms, including labor trafficking and exploitation to prevent abuses like this.”
“Roberto Villanueva abused the H-2B visa program by forcing workers to work long hours in occupations not approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, often for far less than the prevailing wage. Workers that complained were met with threats of physical harm and deportation. The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who misuse worker visa programs for their own personal gain,” Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor OIG New York Region, said in a statement.
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Image and article originally from libn.com. Read the original article here.