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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?
What happened
1. Alex Mishulovich, male, approx. 40 years old at time of investigation, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Russia. Trafficked at least five Latvian women into the U.S. to dance as strippers in nightclubs he owned in Chicago. Also held the women in isolation in an apartment, continually harassed them for sex, and used physical violence and threats of selling them as prostitutes to force the women to strip. 2. Rudite Pede, female, Mishulovich's wife - Entered U.S. from Latvia by fraud. Assisted Mishulovich in obtaining false visas for the trafficked women and recruiting the women in Latvia. 3. Vadim Gorr - male, 35. Drove the women between their apartment and the clubs and assisted Mishulovich in holding them against their will. 4. Dace Mediniece - female, 26. Friend of Rudite. Assisted Rudite in entering U.S. illegally and entered illegally herself. 5. Sergei Tcharouchine - male, 42. Allegedly planned the ring with Mishulovich. Remains at large.
Response and intervention
The FBI investigated the trafficking claims. At the end of the FBI investigation, Mishulovich, Pede, Gorr, and Mediniece were all arrested in connnection with the trafficking of the women. Mishulovich was convicted of involuntary servitude and other related crimes in 1999 and sentenced to nine years. Pede was convicted of visa fraud and conspiracy to commit visa fraud and sentenced to 9 months; she was also deported in 2006. Gorr and Mediniece were also convicted of crimes, though the exact charges are unknown. Tcharouchine remains at large. A U.S. State Department worker in Riga, Latvia became suspicious of Mishulovich and sent two letters about him to federal authorities. The FBI opened an investigation. The traffickers became aware somehow that they were being investigated and released the women in July 1997, sending them back to Latvia with $40 a piece. State Department worker in Riga, Latvia became suspicious of Mishulovich and contacted federal authorities.