Four arrested on labor trafficking charges

Migrant workers from Guatemala were forced to live in a Marion trailer park, according to federal authorities who charged four people Thursday in connection with alleged human trafficking and forced labor.

The four charged by a federal grand jury were Aroldo Castillo-Serrano, 33, of Texas; ConradoSalgado Soto, 52, of Raymond, Ohio; Ana Angelica Pedro Juan, 21, of Columbus; and Juan Pablo Duran Jr., 23, of Marysville.

Charges in the indictment included involvement in a labor-trafficking conspiracy, forced labor, harboring illegal aliens, witness tampering and giving false information.

The migrant workers included eight juveniles and two adults, according to a news release provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

It alleges the workers were brought to the U.S. with the promise of education, then threatened and denied pay to force them to work at Trillium Farms.

Trillium Farms' website lists locations in Croton, Marseilles and Mount Victory. Chuck Renken, Trillium Farm's Director of Human Resources, said the workers were employed by an outside company, and they terminated their contract upon learning of the investigation.

"When federal officials made us aware of a possible employment issue with one of our contractors, we immediately cooperated and assisted in the investigation," Renken said. "That work led to the swift identification and same-day rescue of the employees believed to be working against their will."

"This indictment charges the defendants with putting profits ahead of common decency," said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in the news release. "Human beings are not commodities like farm products."

The indictment was announced by staff with the U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the the Department of Homeland Security.

"Human trafficking and forced labor are forms of modern-day slavery," said Marlon Miller, special agent in charge of Homeland Security's Detroit office. "Criminal organizations involved in human trafficking truly damage their victims and undermine basic human decency."

Each year, the Salvation Army of Central Ohio helps more than 100 victims of human trafficking get out and back onto their feet. Although the bulk of victims are adults trafficked for sex, over the past year they have seen an increase in labor trafficking, said Kelli Cary, Salvation Army's anti-human trafficking program coordinator.

"We (the Salvation Army and law enforcement) are getting much better at identifying labor trafficking victims," she said.

Often situations are similar to the one in Marion where victims have been promised something, such as an education or a paying job, and then are exploited, Cary said. Victims have been exploited in varying industries, including agriculture, restaurants and domestic services.

Signs of labor trafficking can include timidity, reluctance to talk with authorities, signs of abuse and neglect.

"Because they're not getting paid for their services, they're often malnourished or not getting proper medical care," Cary said.

Reporter Jona Ison contributed to this report.