Five brothers from the Ukraine have been charged with smuggling desperate young adults from their homeland and forcing them into bondage cleaning Targets, Walmarts, and other stores and offices. The Botsvynyuk brothers promised their victims jobs paying $500 per month, and free room and board, but instead paid crews little or nothing for their 16-hour days, the racketeering and extortion indictment charged.
In total, 30 victims were lured from the Ukraine from 2000 to 2007, and they were brought in to Pennsylvania through Mexico…..hmm, unsecured border again. They were used or threatened physical and sexual violence if they resisted or tried to escape. Four of the brothers have been arrested _ one in Germany, two in Canada and one in Philadelphia. The fifth man is being sought in Ukraine.
“The victims in this case entered this country with dreams of great opportunity only to find themselves living a nightmare,” U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said at a news conference. “No one trying to immigrate to this country should have to endure such mistreatment.”
There is still no evidence that the retail stores knew about the abusive working conditions. The victims are expected to get temporary visas so they can stay in the U.S. legally while the court case enfolds, and can later apply for permanent residency. It is not known how much money the Botsvynyuks amassed through their alleged scheme, but prosecutors will eventually seek forfeiture of their assets.
The brother arrested in Germany, 51-year-old Omelyan “Milo” Botsvynyuk, raped one of the victims and threatened to force the young daughter of another victim into prostitution. The victims were housed in deplorable conditions, and insisted they work until they pay off smuggling debts of $10,000 to $50,000. Some escaped despite threats to their families back home. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Interpol, and other agencies.
