Immigrant Daily

Farm Owners Charged in Human Trafficking Conspiracy

The U.S. Justice Department says the owners of Aloun Farms in Hawaii have been indicted for allegedly engaging in a conspiracy to commit forced labor and visa fraud. The department says that charges against Alec Souphone Sou and Mike Mnkone Sou arose from a scheme to coerce the labor and services of Thai nationals brought to Hawaii to work under the federal agricultural guest work program. Prosecutors say both Sou defendants are also charged with conspiring to commit document servitude. The indictment says the Sous and co-defendant William Khoo conspired to obtain the labor of 44 Thai nationals by enticing to come to Aloun Farms with false promises of lucrative jobs. If convicted, Alec and Mike Sou would each face maximum sentences of 15 years in prison and William Khoo would face a maximum 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the case is being prosecuted by trials attorneys Susan French and Kevonne small of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.

For more information please click: Human trafficking indictment in Hawaii