A federal jury in Camden, New Jersey, has found a Nigerian couple, Bolaji Bolarinwa, aged 50, and Isiaka Bolarinwa, aged 67, both from Burlington County, New Jersey, guilty of forced labor and other related crimes.
According to the United States Department of Justice, the couple were found guilty of the allegations after a two week trial.
The department affirmed that the accused persons coerced two individuals into domestic labour, including childcare, between December 2015 and October 2016.
The jury convicted Bolaji of two counts of forced labor, one count of alien harboring for financial gain, and two counts of document servitude.
Isiaka was convicted of two counts of forced labor and one count of alien harboring for financial gain.
The duo were, however, acquitted of a second count of alien harbouring for financial gain.
The Department of Justice noted that a sentencing hearing will be scheduled later. Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each forced labor count and 10 years for the alien harbouring count.
An additional maximum penalty of five years in prison, awaits Bolaji, for each unlawful document conduct count.
The two individuals will also have to pay mandatory restitution to the victims and fines up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
