Arlington, United States
Below is a link and the text of a news article reporting the indictment: http://cbs2.com/national/slave.domestic.servitude.2.1364018.html Dec 11, 2009 7:00 am US/Pacific Texas Couple Accused Of Keeping Mother As Slave Husband, Wife Allegedly Kept Woman In Servitude 9 Years; Also Accused Of Sexual Assault FORT WORTH (CBS) ― [Click to zoom.] Click to enlarge 1 of 1 CBS Close numSlides of totalImages Related Slideshows News Year In Review 2009 Related Stories * Archaeologists Find Remains of 1841 Slave Ship (11/25/2008) * Prosecutors: Afghan Girl Kept As Slave In Seattle (10/17/2008) * Fla. Woman Gets Jail In Teen Slave Case (5/20/2008) Related Links * KTVT-TV Local Coverage A federal grand jury has formally accused an Arlington couple of keeping a widowed, Nigerian mother of six in domestic servitude, or in essence holding her as their slave. According to the Justice Department, husband and wife, Emmanuel and Ngozi Nnaji, held the woman for nine years. Officials believe the Nnajis promised the woman that she would be paid, and there would be support for her children, if she came to work for them as a domestic servant, reports CBS station KTVT-TV in Dallas. The abuse allegedly happened while the couple lived at a house in the 1500 block of Green Hill Drive, in Arlington. KTVT went there and tried to speak to a woman who came out of the house, but she had nothing to say. We're told the victim no longer lives at the house. Part of the seven-count indictment alleges that the couple used unscrupulous means to get fraudulent immigration documents, confiscated the victim's official documents, secretly kept her in their home and forced her to work long hours with no days off for little or no pay. Emmanuel Nnaji is also accused of sexually assaulting the victim and threatening the woman if she called police. Ngozi Nnaji is a Nigerian national. Click here to read the entire U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas criminal complaint against Emmanuel and Ngozi Nnaji. Officials claim the couple kept the woman isolated from the outside world and refused her requests to be returned home or be paid for her services. Along with not paying the victim, the couple also allegedly failed to provide support for the victim's children back in Nigeria. Contact with her Nigerian family was also monitored and she was prevented from attending church regularly. The couple, who have been charged with conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, alien harboring and false statements, was arrested on September 30. Both Ngozi and Emmanuel Nnaji face up to 55 years in prison, if convicted. Since Ngozi Nnaji is not a U.S. citizen, if she is convicted she also faces deportation. KTVT spoke to Ngozi Nnaji's attorney who said his client will plead not guilty and that they plan to challenge the charges. The case is being investigated by the FBI. (© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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